They do not look like Finnish people and indeed, they come from far away. In 2007 hundreds of them left Vietnam due to persecution and were allowed to settle in different areas in Finland. Among them are 120 members from Alliance Churches in Vietnam (the main Vietnamese evangelical denomination). Soon after arriving in their Northern Europe, new Churches were started. They try to integrate in the new culture, some of them even married Finnish spouses. Their meetings are still in their mother tongue. These Vietnamese are all so called Montagnards belonging to the Jorai tribe in the Central highlands of their native country. The leader of the group, Lem Rahlan, is getting training through the internet from the Montagnard Alliance Theological Center, run by Montagnard Churches in the USA. Early July, Montagnard pastor Hendy Siu from America and AWF president Arie Verduijn, visited the young church in Northern Finland. The intention is to give spiritual support to this isolated group, hoping to see them develop into a blessing for their new homeland.

Pictures: – Pastor Lem Rahlan baptizing and – the Church choir