Contact: David Jones, Luis Palau Association, 503-614-1500

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, March 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- Speaking to 500 Vietnamese pastors and hundreds more by live Internet feed, evangelist Dr. Luis Palau commended Vietnam's pastors for their unity, respect for authorities, and passion for church growth. Dr. Palau was in Vietnam March 11-17, leading an American delegation that held meetings in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam authorities, US diplomats, and pastors representing every denomination.

Pastors described the event as historic and unprecedented, evidence of significant changes that are taking place in Vietnam on many fronts. The two-day conference organized by the Vietnamese pastors included addresses by Dr. Palau, Intel executive Rick Coulson, San Diego pastor Mike MacIntosh, and investment banker and former Secretary of the Navy John Dalton.

The conference kicked off in Hanoi and then moved south to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. In Hanoi, Dr. Palau and his delegation met with US Ambassador Michael W. Michalak who told Palau there has been progress on issues related to religious freedom. He cited as an example the Vietnamese government granting permission this past December for house churches to hold a one-day celebration. It was attended by 40,000 people.

While in Hanoi, Dr. Palau also greeted worshipers at the Hanoi Church. In each public appearance, Dr. Palau and his hosts expressed gratitude to the authorities. Dr. Palau said he was honored by the opportunity to speak to the Vietnamese pastors, but was more interested in learning from them.

Ambassador Michalak reminded the evangelist and his delegation that "this is Vietnam's first peace generation in hundreds of years; the first time families can look forward to the future without the fear of sending their young people off to war." By most accounts progress in the area of religious freedom seems to be the result of Vietnam's economic liberalization and growing middle class.

In Ho Chi Minh City, many more pastors and leaders wanted to attend the second day of the conference than could be accommodated by the venue. Organizers had to designate certain slots to each denomination in order to ensure that every denomination was appropriately represented by their congregation size. Leader after leader repeated, "This is a new day for Vietnam." The program lasted eleven hours with Dr. Palau addressing the audience three different times.

Dr. Palau encouraged the pastors to bless and pray for their city, and to pray for, serve and honor the authorities. In all of his messages Dr. Palau was frequently interrupted with shouts of amen and applause.