Saturday, June 7, 2008

Religion

Religion

Rituals Ancestor beliefs, often involving the sacrifice and blood letting of animals, are practiced regularly to appease the spirits.

The traditional religion of the Montagnards is animism, characterized by a keen sensitivity to nature and a belief that spirits are present and active in the natural world. These spirits are both good and bad. Rituals, often involving the sacrifice and blood letting of animals, are practiced regularly to appease the spirits. While the Montagnards still practice animism in Vietnam, those in the United States are Christian and for the most part do not practice the traditional religion.
Christianity was introduced to the Montagnards in Vietnam in the 1850s by French Catholic missionaries. Some Montagnards embraced Catholicism, incorporating aspects of animism into their system of worship.

By the 1930s, American Protestant missionaries were also active in the Highlands. The Christian and Missionary Alliance, an evangelical fundamentalist denomination, had a particularly strong presence. Through the work of the Summer Institutes of Linguistics, these highly committed missionaries learned various tribal languages, developed written alphabets, translated the Bible into the languages, and taught the Montagnards to read the Bible in their own languages. The Montagnards who were converted to Protestant Christianity were expected to make a full break from their animist traditions. The sacrifice of Jesus as the Christ and the ritual of communion became a substitute for animal sacrifice and blood rituals.

Mission schools Bibles Colloge, churches and Christian Clinics became important social institutions include health education, health prevention and treatment in the Highlands of Vietnam. Native pastors were locally and from Overseas trained and ordained.

Montagnard Christians experienced a new sense of self-worth and empowerment, and the church became more independence's is mean leading by their Montagnard Spiritual Leadership and affiliation with the Saints bodies of Christianity of World. Even though most Montagnard peoples did not claim church membership, the influence of the church corporate with all Christian Community in Vietnam and abroad overseas. The United Montagnard Christian Churches is none political influence necessary. An optically seem as the Christian believers and politic Leaders joint as one together, because, after 1975, Hanoi regime invade South Vietnam destroyed the religious and property of south Vietnam and Central highland belongs to Montagnard its was Hanoi destroys at same time, in particularly Hanoi government took Montagnard ancestor Land farm of Montagnard and all Missionary Center, Bible schơol and Christian Clinic has no longer exists. Therefore were primary goals, Montagnards Christian and include Reverend Y Hin Nie flee to jungle as Pilgrim seeking Religious Freedom as Eli ran flee from Ahab against God in Old Testaments. Reverend Y Hin Nie stand religious freedom, educate the Christian around the world regarding Christian in Vietnam has being persecution and asking all of Christian prays, joint re-establish the Churches, Bibles College and Christian Clinics these was the primary projects the Missionary has establish in Central high Land prior tơo 1975; but, are now gone. Let us again joint hand to re-establishes the foundation has been destroyed speak one voice, one task-work together for God glorify shall save many souls has not being save.

The U.S. military alliance during the Vietnam War reinforced the Montagnard linkage with the American Protestant missionary movement. The oppression of the church in the Highlands by the current Vietnamese regime is rooted in this dynamic.

Churches are a primary social institution for the Montagnards in the United States. Religious Practice in the United States The vast majority of the Montagnard refugees in the United States are Christian. Most are Protestant though probably over one-third, or about 1,000 people, are Roman Catholic.

Churches are a primary social institution for the Montagnards in the United States. In North Carolina, many native churches are active in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte, the three primary cities that have resettled the Montagnards, although English-speaking Montagnards who wish to be acculturated into the wider American society have joined mainstream churches. Catholic Montagnards generally attend a Vietnamese or an English-speaking church, while evangelical Protestants attend Montagnard or English-speaking churches. Greensboro has a Catholic Montagnard and Vietnamese congregation with a Vietnamese priest and a Montagnard deacon.

Among the Protestant churches to beliefs the Trinity of God, Jesus Christian and Holy Spirit theological. Some churches prefer a tribal identity, others want a church that provides more support to the resistance movement in Vietnam, and still others seek a congregation that emphasizes inclusion and reconciliation and seeks to reduce differences and divisions.

Most Montagnard Christians embrace their religion as a singular force that has transformed their people, viewing it as a means not only of personal salvation but also of cultural preservation and dignity. There is a strong identification with the suffering of the ancient Israelites. The notion of the promised land-the covenanted community-and the belief that Jesus was sacrificed for them resonates with the Montagnards. Daily activities, however, may not differ that much from those of other low-income people and other new arrivals who are seeking to adapt to their new communities and become self sufficient.

The United Montagnards Christian Church

Mission: The mission of the United Montagnards Christian Church is to continue the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives to practice their Christian faith. The United Montagnard Church here in America is the heir of that legacy and is obligated to grow and to minister to all Montagnards and other refugees the Gospel of the Christian faith. Our work, started in Vietnam, must continue in America as we sow the Joy of the night's weeping.

Our Pastor: Pastor Y'Hin Nie, the father of three children, is the Pastor of the United Montagnard Christian Church. At present he is pursuing his PhD in Theology at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. As pastor of the United Montagnard Christian Church, Reverend Y'Hin Nie is truly a shepherd to his flock. He is on call to his community 24-hours 7-days a week. Reverend Nie provides transportation for employment interviews, medical appointments, legal appointments, grocery and other personal needs. He also serves as an interpreter and liaison between the Montagnard community and city and county agencies and service providers.

Church Needs: We are seeking individuals to participate in our growth in the following volunteer positions: Board Members, people to write letters of support for grant purposes, and volunteers in other capacities. We would also be grateful to people who would like to help us financially through donations to aid the Bible's Colleges and Christian Clinic projects for three Province in Central Highland of Vietnam and other humanitarian-aids missions and programs.

The United Montagnard Christian Church is extremely asking You or Your Church or Bibles University or any NGO for Charity organization in the United States and other Country in the world to joint us rebuilt again the foundation of Bibles College, churches and Christian Clinics by American Missionaries has established before the War foundation has been destroyed in Central Highland for Montagnard and poor people. Now, timely for us to plan a head re-establish again.

May God is blessing over you flows beyond of your life, your Family and Your Churches.

Contact Reverend Y'Hin Nie for further information on how you can help. Thank you.

Address: 1204 Picard St. Greensboro, NC 27405 Phone: 336-253-2092

__________________________

Tro ve Trang Dau Tien
Back to Content

__________________________