Protestantism in Gia Lai in the period of 1986 - 2005

Abstract

Located in the North of the Central Highlands, Gia Lai is a province, where Protestants are said to be the fastest growing population. By the end of 2004, the number of Protestants in Gia Lai had reached 71,212. The paper is aimed to give an overview of the development of Protestantism in Gia Lai from 1986 to 2004. In this period, there was a sudden increase in the number of Protestants, in Gia Lai particularly and in the Central Highlands generally, even though the religion had been banned from operation since 1980 in the Central Highlands due to its involvement with FULRO(1). This sudden change is considered as a vital factor leading to the promulgation of Decree No. 01/2005/CT-TTg by the Prime Minister On a number of tasks related to Protestantism.