My 15 years of studying at UUC have had a profound impact on my life and ministry. This is the recollection of a man who was born in a challenging time in his country, called by God and trained at UUC to become a missionary, a leader in Burnham Ministries International, founder of Mục Vụ Nơi Làm Việc (Vietnam Workplace Ministries) and an inspiration to many young Christian leaders at home and abroad. All “by God’s grace alone“.

Youth and Calling

I was born in Da Nang city and grew up in a small village, a valley found in Que Son district, Quang Nam province, where there were many war relics and broken marks of war. The image still imprinted in my memory is the Que Son church was destroyed by bombs (the pastor and many believers died), only the facade wall of the church remains.

Thank God, I was raised in a godly family. There was an important event that I still remember to this day. It was on the last day of high school when I was preparing for college entrance exams and was about to leave home. I felt lonely and full of despair as I looked into the unknown future. That night, for the first time, I knelt and prayed to God. He showed me a vision – an image of me serving among many peoples. Later, when I studied theology, I realized it was the vision God gave to my life. I have lived with hope and expectation to serve Him in this vision, for this calling.

Journey to Study at UUC

I left my hometown for Ho Chi Minh City to study in 1990, and later served as Head of the Mission Department of a church. In 2000, after exactly 10 years of meeting the Lord, God prompted me to study theology to serve better. I got to know UUC, and it was one of the key turning points in my learning journey. I chose UUC because there I could study and serve at the same time.

2000-2004: I studied for the Master of Arts in Ministry (MA) at UUC in Cambodia and graduated in 2004.

2005-2006: I continued to study Master of Divinity (MDiv) and graduated in 2006 in California.

2007-2011: I continued to study Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin) in English. During this time, I served as the Executive Director of chapel and church construction projects in both the North and the South with International Cooperating Ministries (ICM) and Spiritual Light Ministries (SLM). We helped churches build over 200 chapels and churches.

2012-2016: After transferring some jobs, I started to focus more on my research. By God’s grace, I completed my DEdMin in 2016.

Since 2017, I have been invited to serve God as the Southeast Asia director of BMI – Burnham Ministries International.

Words of Gratitude

If I had not studied and equipped at UUC for a long time, I do not think I would be able to do the above things. More than 15 years of studying at this school – studying and serving God both at home and abroad – have helped me to be humble, always learning constantly, and always relying on God.

I sincerely thank the school and the professors who guided and taught me during those years. By God’s grace, I met Him, was equipped at UUC, walked in vision, and became an instrument in His hands. With God’s grace and His gift to me, I desire to serve Him all my life.

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  (Luke 1:37)

Duong Nguyen

A former student of UUC

UUC Newsletter, Jan. 2023.