Có tất cả 43 ông bà Giáo sĩ nhận lời mời tham dự Hội Ðồng Giáo Hạt lần thứ 30, cũng là lễ Kỷ Niệm 30 năm thành lập Giáo Hạt Việt Nam Hoa Kỳ.  Trở về sau kỳ Hội Ðồng, các giáo sĩ đã gửi thư, gửi thiệp bày tỏ lòng biết ơn sâu xa và niềm vui thiên đàng trong những ngày được cùng chúng ta thờ phượng Chúa, nghe Lời Chúa tại Hội Ðồng.  Tòa Soạn xin trích đăng thư các Giáo Sĩ gửi về. Qua những lời cám ơn này, chúng ta đọc được niềm xúc động sâu xa của các tôi tớ  Ðức Chúa Trời, đã dành thời thanh xuân phục vụ Chúa tại quê hương chúng ta, đến nay ở tuổi xế chiều vẫn còn được Hội Thánh Việt Nam nhớ đến.  Bày tỏ lòng biết ơn, chúng ta đã mời các cựu giáo sĩ đến chung vui, dành cho các đầy tớ Chúa không những chỉ là một chỗ tốt đẹp trong Hội Ðồng mà còn trong cả tấm lòng tín hữu Việt Nam.  Ðọc những lời này, tất cả chúng ta đều được tưởng thưởng và hiểu vì sao Chúa dạy chúng ta rằng: “phải biết ơn” và “kính trọng người có công khó trong vòng anh em…. Lấy lòng rất yêu thương đối với họ vì cớ công việc họ làm.”

 

What an honor it was to be with you for your thirtieth anniversary celebration as a district! It was tremendously encouraging to be with you and your people, to see your desire for God, and to learn more about His work among you and through you.. Your appreciation and love expressed to C&MA missionaries who served in Vietnam was amazing to me.  Never before have I seen a people express such profound gratitude for the sacrifices made by those who brought them the gospel.  You poured out so much love and gratitude on the C&MA missionaries who ministered among you.  For many of them, the remaining time here on earth undoubtedly is relatively short.  It meant more to them than words can express that you showed your thankfulness in such tangible ways: Paying for their travel, providing their housing and meals, and then publicly thanking and honoring them.  I was deeply touched by your generosity and love so graciously demonstrated.  Thank you…

Dr. Robert Fetherlin

Vice President for International Ministries

 

Thank you for the honor and privilege of participating in the wonderful 30^th year celebration of the Vietnamese District at Azusa Pacific University .  I was deeply moved by the Lord’s presence in all the services, and so very thankful for the tremendous advance of the Vietnamese churches in America .

Dr. Donald A. Wiggins

Vice President for National Church Ministries

 

I have such wonderful memories of the great music presented by all ages from the little children to the adult  choirs.  Praise the Lord for the obedience of the District churches in their growth and progress.

Dr. Charles Long

 

There are simply no words to thank you enough for the wonderful experience of attending the VN 30^th Anniversary Conference.  Please thank the committee for their love and generosity.

Dr. & Mrs. Woody and Charlotte

 

Thank you again for your wonderful hospitality at the district conference.  The whole experience was deeply meaningful and heart-warming.  We will never forget it.

Dr. & Mrs. Richard Phillips

 

Hallelujah!  The 30th Vietnamese Conference was such a great blessing to us.  Words cannot express the way we were so royally treated by all.  The singing, preaching, praying and outpouring of love will not be forgotten. We were overwhelmed to see so many of our fellow missionaries and Vietnamese friends and to learn what God is doing in their lives today.  It was a bit of heaven in advance.

You honored us greatly and we want to thank you and the District for making it possible for us to be partakers in this most joyous occasion.  How wonderful that the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is shed abroad in the lives of our beloved Vietnamese people.

Truly you have been through many trials and tribulations.  But God has anointed your lives with a joy unspeakable and full of glory.  This world is blessed by your faithful prayers and service.

 My wife and I again “Thank You” with all our hearts.  We look forward to seeing the CD/DVD edition of all the programs.

Rev. & Mrs. Richard W. Pendell Thank you for the wonderful Missionary Conference/Meeting last Monday night of Conference.  What blessing! and thanks again for bringing all the former Alliance Missionaries (U.S) together.  What blessing!

Dr. & Mrs. Spencer Sutherland

 

We have thought often, and talked much about the wonderful time we had during our stay there. We thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful music and the great fellowship with you, with the hundreds of Vietnamese Christians who were there, and with our missionary colleagues, some of whom we had not seen for a number of years.  It is impossible for us to adequately express our sincere appreciation to you and your Committee who made it all possible.  I know that all of the missionaries who were present were thrilled to be your guests. It will be a memory we all shall cherish for a very long time!

We are so grateful to you, and to your District Committee, for the wonderful time we enjoyed at The District Conference there in California .  We were overwhelmed at the blessings received during our stay with you.  I cannot put into words my gratitude for the marvelous reception we experienced.

Let me say again that I am highly honored to be the first person to receive the honorary degree conferred by your Committee.  It was an expression far beyond anything I could have imaged. Please convey my gratitude to your Committee for making this possible.

The joy of being with you, and with the hundreds of believers representing your District was an experience we will cherish forever!  The Lord’s presence was evident throughout the Conference.  The fellowship with you and with many whom we have known for so very long was most uplifting!

Dr. & Mrs. T. Grady Mangham

 

How do we thank you all for the blessed four days spent with you recently?  We were moved, encouraged, challenged, refreshed, and spiritually strengthened.  Thank you for your dedication and all you did to make it a time we will never forget.  May God continue to bless you all in your service to the Lord.

Rev. & Mrs. John Fitzstevens

 

We thank you so very much for the blessed time we had together in California .  We will never forget your great kindness to us.  We have never in our life felt more loved and appreciated than when we were together.  Thank you so very much and may the Lord richly bless the Vietnamese Churches and each of you individually.

Rev. & Mrs. Merle Mae Douglas

 

I want to thank you and the Vietnamese District for inviting me to the 30^th year celebration in California .  Words cannot fully convey my gratitude and my thankful heart for having attended the celebration.  I can truthfully say that it was one of the highlights of my life, one that I shall never forget.  You all treated us like kings and were always gracious to us.  Thank you for paying for our airline tickets, for our wonderful accommodations and for the generous check for our food and love gift to me. Thank you for the beautiful Medallion you gave to each of us.  Thank you for your sacrificial giving so that we all could attend.

I have been praying for the Tin Lanh church in Vietnam ever since I left 1975.  I have also prayed some for the Tin Lanh Churches here in the U. S.  I have left the 30 year celebration with a new burden to pray for all the pastors and the churches in the U.S.   Would it be possible to receive a list of all the Tin Lanh churches and the pastors here in the states so that I can pray for them?

Rev. David Beack

 

Betty and I wish to thank you for inviting us to the 30th Council of the Vietnamese Evangelical Church.

 Our hearts were  deeply touched as we met the former missionaries for the first time in 30 years. Many tears were shed of fond memories during our service in Vietnam. The many heads of gray hair reminded us that our earthly days  will soon be over and only what we have done for Christ will last.

The services were well done and the fellowship beyond our deepest dreams. We can see the prayers of the late Rev Doan van Mieng being answered. I met with him in his Saigon home where we prayed for ten million Vietnamese would come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Thank you  for the paying for our total expenses. You have spoiled us. However we thank God that He is using all of you spread the Gospel to everyone.  If we could start over our ministry again we would love to be back in Vietnam.

Please thank everyone who shared in making us feel  like  kings and queens.

May the Lord of the Harvest  continue to enlarge your heaven anointed ministry.

  Rev. & Mrs Royce Rexilius

 

I do want to thank you and your people who put together that great conference!  I met so many of the Vietnam missionaries that I hadn’t seen for years.  And everyone treated us like we were special, but in God’s sight we really are all special for we are all his children! Praise his name.

May the Lord continue to bless all the Vietnamese churches, and may many more come to a saving knowledge of him – both here, and in Vietnam , I pray, thank you again.

Mrs. Betty Mitchell

 

This is a note to tell you how pleased I was with the recent celebration.  It demonstrated careful and thoughtful planning.  I know it was a great amount of works.  I count it a privilege to be associated with such outstanding people.   My heart was challenged.  I found it a great worship experience.  You give great leadership to the District.  Thank you! The plan to invite the missionaries and pay their expenses goes beyond my imagination.  I have never heard of anything like that in the history of the church.  God must have smiled on that gathering.

Rev. & Mrs. Otis Fisher

 

It was a privilege to attend your anniversary celebration and District conference.  Thank you for the invitation! You and your staff handled the logistics very well.  It was just like being at an Alliance Council.

Rev. Phil Skellie

 

In life, every now and then”Serendipity” comes along, your invitation to attend the Hoi Dong was that special occasion.

All the preparations you made for us were superb.  The programs were enjoyed and included everyone.  We accept everything you did for us, for we know you all are God’s servants showing sincere gratitude for what little we missionaries have done for the Vietnamese people in many places.

Rev. & Mrs. Hans LeRoy Josephsen

Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend the 30^th Annual Conference of the Vietnamese District of the C&MA.  It was an unforgettable experience and a great joy to see what the Lord has done.  It was also very special to hear from the brethren who came from Vietnam.  This was so encouraging.  We have new “fuel” for prayer for God’s work here and in Vietnam.

Rev. & Mrs. Gail Fleming

 

This was a very special experience and we will treasure the memory of those days together.  The Lord very wonderfully blessed us many years ago when He called us to serve Him together with Vietnamese brothers and sisters.  Now you have blessed us through your kindness and thoughtfulness.

It was especially good for us to be with you and so many people we worked with years ago.  It was wonderful to be able to meet again with missionaries colleagues, many of whom we have not seen since 1975.  God blessed the conference with good preaching and rich fellowship and we praise Him.  Thank you for making it possible for us to attend..

Rev. & Mrs. Ted Cline

 

We have only heartfelt praise to our wonderful Lord and Savior for the way that God has blessed so abundantly over these past thirty years – many, many churches proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a top quality seminary training dedicated young people for ministry, God’s people gaining an ever broadening vision for the lost all over the world, Christian dedication in local churches, and on and on.  We know that these things just don’t happen.  They are a direct result of the guidance of the Holy Spirit as He leads dedicated leaders, and you have been a key person in God’s awesome plan.  We thank God for you.

Attending conference ourselves was such a tremendous blessing!  Never did we dream that we would meet so many friends of years gone by.  Many Christians came up to us and said that they had believed in the refugee camp.  We were truly blessed sitting under Spirit-anointed preaching each day.  Thus we wish to express our deepest gratitude for inviting all of us missionaries to attend this once-in-a-lifetime occasion... Praise God and thank you again from the depths of our hearts.

Rev. & Mrs. Jim Livingston

 

How can we adequately thank you for making it possible for us to attend your glorious 30^th Anniversary Celebration of the Hoi Thanh Tin Lanh Church of Vietnam in America?  We rejoice with you in the obvious blessing of the Lord upon your work here in America.

Your provision for us to join with 40 other Vietnamese missionaries was spiritually, socially and physically refreshing.  The “celebration” had an obvious Holy Spirit anointing on it and ministered to us greatly.  Meeting Vietnamese brothers and sisters as well as missionary colleagues we had not seen in 30 years rekindled embers of former delightful relationships.  Thank you for making that possible.  Our prayers are that the Lord who said, “I will supply all your needs according to our riches in glory in Christ Jesus” shall do that for you.  We shall continue to pray for you and thank God for your generous gift to us.

Rev. & Mrs. Stanley and Joan Lemon