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Iron Sharpens Iron:

Building God-Honoring Friendships

Greetings Ministry Partners,

The term “friendship recession” appeared in the United Kingdom in 2022, followed by the United States. It refers to the increase in the number of adults who lack a certain number of close friends. 

Research suggests that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led many people to live lonelier lives, especially those living in large cities. Younger generations also recognize that the demands of studying, working, and technological advancements have created a problem where virtual friendships outweigh real ones.  

In July, I was invited to be a speaker at a youth summer Bible camp on the theme “Friendship: Iron Sharpens Iron.” I emphasized four main topics: (1) The foundation of friendship, (2) The characteristics of friendship, (3) The power of friendship, and (4) The purpose of friendship. 

This series of sermons helps young people discover the essential values of genuine friendship. In a world dominated by superficial relationships, true friendship serves as a school of virtue. We have learned that genuine friendship is a process of mutual development, where friends encourage each other to live more saintly and aim for completeness. Christian friendship is not only companionship but also involves sacrifice, forgiveness, and serving one another, just as Jesus did with his disciples. Therefore, let us invest time in quality relationships, where everyone strives to bring glory to God, grow together, and become better each day.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverb 27:17)

Thank you for your prayers and support,

CCI Vietnam National Director

Training

Here are some photos from the Resolving Conflict in a Godly Way Seminar.

The Story of Hope (TSOH) Seminar

TSOH is a very useful tool to help believers understand the whole Bible. It is written by Goodsoil, which has been translated, edited, and printed by our team. The first time we trained in the north, there were more than 25 pastors in northern Vietnam and neighboring provinces.

Pastors Trevor, Sitha, Jojo, and Easton came from Cambodia to help with the training. We aim to have about 1,000 believers access this training by early 2026. After the training, we visited with pastors and their families and had dinner with them. 

Praise the Lord! This month, two Hmong books, Book #4 and Book #5, were printed, with 200 copies of each produced.

Classes

Below are some recent photos of CCI classes currently being conducted across Vietnam.

Testimonies

Testimony from a CCI Student

"Book 9 on Church History teaches us about what happened after Jesus' ascension. The Holy Spirit was given to the disciples, who were filled with the Spirit and began their mission of preaching the gospel, leading to the establishment of the first church. 

As the apostles preached, they faced much persecution, but through these persecutions, they were scattered everywhere, and churches were established wherever they went. The church's history includes periods of growth and dark times, when it became secularized and doctrinally distorted. In response, God raised reformers who sacrificially defended His truth. This training has challenged me to trust God like the reformers of the past. Their faith, dedication, and even martyrdom set an example for today's generation to be willing to suffer for the gospel."

Testimony from a Seminar Participant

"The Resolving Conflict in a Godly Way seminar is truly valuable and essential. We are equipped with the skills to recognize conflicts and handle them with faithfulness. This course is not only applicable to the church and staff but also benefits relationships within families and between spouses. I believe that if these lessons are sincerely applied in real life, no conflict will be insurmountable with the omnipotent power of God. Thank you, CCI, for offering this wonderful course."

Crossing Cultures International

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