Only people who lived through the Vietnam War can fully appreciate what a huge impact it had in this country. New technology was enabling us to see pictures of appalling civilian casualties. And they were brought right to our living rooms, night after night. The footage of the napalm-burnt young girl running naked down a country road has become iconic.
A small group who met regularly at St Mary’s Church in Leamington Spa were, like many others, shocked by the news bulletins. But they determined to try to do something about it. The need was so immense and they were tempted to think that they could have no impact. But they reasoned that, if they could only help one child, then that would be worthwhile. And to help one child was an achievable goal. Or so they thought.
In the first year of its existence, Project Vietnam Orphans raised a little money, designed a logo, and accomplished nothing. The fledgling organisation met a brick wall of resistance from existing aid organisations and the authorities. “Leave it to the professionals” was the advice.
The small committee, under the Reverend Pat Ashe’s inspiring leadership, persisted. They believed that God was calling them to show something of His love in Vietnam. Eventually a breakthrough came, and visas were granted for the first two nurses to fly out to Saigon. That one child was helped. And another, and another; hundreds of orphans, many abandoned and destitute, came into PVO’ s care.
God did not allow PVO to wither on the vine. By His power it became an established relief and development agency, respected by the established organisations in the field.
Without PVO there would have been no Christian Outreach and subsequently no Cord. Thinking back to all the lives which have been enhanced or saved through the work of PVO and Cord, we must thank God that he guided that small group at St Mary’s Church in 1967. He gave them the faith to persevere against all the odds and to lay the foundations for all that has been achieved over the last forty one years.
Written by Jeff Burgess, Project Vietnam Orphans, Christian Outreach and Cord
Cord UK Office 1 New Street Leamington Spa CV31 1HP United Kingdom
A small group who met regularly at St Mary’s Church in Leamington Spa were, like many others, shocked by the news bulletins. But they determined to try to do something about it. The need was so immense and they were tempted to think that they could have no impact. But they reasoned that, if they could only help one child, then that would be worthwhile. And to help one child was an achievable goal. Or so they thought.
God did not allow PVO to wither on the vine. By His power it became an established relief and development agency, respected by the established organisations in the field.
