What considerations were involved in VOM’s production of Underground Reality: Vietnam?

In the process of undertaking Underground Reality: Vietnam, The Voice of the Martyrs carefully considered all the risks and opportunities involved. 

In any endeavor such as this, inherent risks are expected. However, it needs to be understood that the national Christians involved have already been systematically persecuted and the ongoing risks already exist. Even so, VOM first met with leading members of the Vietnamese underground church to acquire the blessing [and participation] to produce this video.

The Vietnamese leaders were very encouraged by VOM’s vision to produce this video and help share the message of the persecuted church in Vietnam. Careful consideration was also given to who could and could not be shown on camera.

The faces of all those who are shown were done so with their permission and desire to make their testimonies known. Viewers may assume that this has put them at greater risks. However, the opposite is true. Should the Vietnamese government further persecute any of the Christians whose faces are shown on the video, VOM would have the ability to launch a full scale world-wide exposure to the situation with the visual impact of this video.

Vietnam actually claims “freedom of religion” and the last thing they want is to have a public “visual” exposure of the truth of how they treat known tribal Christians. Therefore, the likelihood of the Vietnamese further persecuting individuals on this film is slim.

The church in the Central Highlands the team visited was under investigation before the team arrived. In fact, foreigners who were invited and attempted to visit earlier were turned back at one of the various check points. Although the team left the church after just 20 minutes of visiting, the believers were more than overwhelmed to receive them and were greatly impacted by their visit. The church had never before been visited by foreigners. Their joy and acceptance of the team is evident on the film.  

                                                            --------------------------------------------------