By Bishop Tuyen Nguyen

Baptism is a very important event for the Vietnamese Mennonite Church in the United States and Vietnam. To us, it is a commitment and a sign that a believer becomes a part of the community of Christ.  It is a demonstration of a new life, submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is also a picture of becoming one with Christ, to die to sin and to live with Christ. Usually, a new believer is asked to take the baptism class, which covers all the basic doctrines. Some churches use the Confession of Faith, others use a short form of the Confession of Faith condensed by the pastor or a church leader in charge of the training. In the early days, our church in Philadelphia would have a six-month class. But now the training time is shorter, and after being baptized, a person will keep on learning; “baptizing” goes first and then “teaching” as we read in the gospel of Matthew:

Many early leaders of the Vietnamese Mennonite churches came from the background of Christian and Missionary Alliance churches, so we tend to use the immersion procedure. But we also practice water pouring as a sign of the Holy Spirit pouring out onto the new believer. We use both forms to baptize new believers in Vietnam.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

The Mennonite Churches in Vietnam are the mission fields of Upper Darby Mennonite   Fellowship located in Philadelphia, Pa. Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship is part of the Philadelphia District of LMC. Bishop Tuyen Nguyen serves as the “mission director” of this collaboration and maintains regular contact with the leaders in Vietnam and the US.