How 40 Bags of Rice Led to 6,000 Bibles: A Miracle in Vietnam

I recently returned from a journey to Asia that deeply stirred my spirit and reminded me of the profound ways God moves when we simply make ourselves available. While the world often looks at Vietnam as a rapidly modernizing nation, there is a deep, quiet hunger—both physical and spiritual—residing in its rural villages. I was privileged to join a team of ten as we traveled through the southern part of the country to witness a ministry called Rice for Christ, led by my dear friends Terry and Thai Hensley. Their mission is as simple as it is powerful: they distribute Bibles alongside rice and food items to the poor, specifically timed during the Lunar New Year when the need is greatest and hearts are most open.

The story of how this ministry began is a beautiful testament to how God uses our smallest acts of obedience to create a massive impact. It started when Thai returned to her home country to renovate her father’s burial site and felt moved to buy 40 bags of rice for the people helping her. That "friendly gesture" sparked a vision in Terry’s heart to use food as a tool to draw people into Bible-believing churches. What began as a handful of bags has now flourished into seven mission trips and the distribution of over 6,000 Bibles to families in need. On this trip alone, we were able to provide for over 1,200 families, proving that no vision is too small for a great God.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this work is the favor they have found with the local authorities. In a country governed by People's Committees, Terry and Thai have committed to abiding by every local law, securing official permits through local pastors before any distribution takes place. Because the government sees the tangible good being done for their citizens at no cost to the state, they approve the work. It is a modern-day miracle to see government officials stand by as the "Good News" is handed out alongside ten-kilogram bags of rice and noodles, illustrating that when our motives are pure, God can open doors that no man can shut.

At 76 years old, Terry Hensley is a living example that you are never too old to have a dream or to be used by the Lord. His advice to anyone feeling a tug on their heart is simple: "Put the first foot forward". Whether it is meeting physical needs with rice or spiritual needs with the Word of God, the goal of Rice for Christ is to empower local churches and make the name of Jesus known. I encourage you to visit their website and see how you can be a part of this growing mission. Let us all be challenged to make ourselves available to God today, for He is still in the business of doing remarkable things through ordinary people.

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