file: /pub/resources/text: nr94-045.txt --------------------------------------- For Immediate Release September 3, 1994 Release #1994-45 For Further Information Contact: Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service Voice: (616) 674-8446 FAX: (616) 674-8454 E-Mail: Darrell128@AOL.com PO Box 691, Lawrence, MI 49064-0691 Vietnamese Congregation in Alliance of Reformed Churches Breaks Records in Bone Marrow Drive to Aid Dying Boy - 342 Donors Volunteer for Screening at Saigon Reformed Presbyterian Church by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service (September 3, 1994) RBPS - On Sunday, August 21, 342 Vietnamese lined up to be tested for possible bone marrow donations at Saigon Reformed Presbyterian Church, a member congregation of the Alliance of Reformed Churches in Santa Ana, California. The church turnout broke all records for the sponsoring organization and made the front page of the Orange County Register. Including 110 donors at the local Buddhist meditation institute, over 450 Vietnamese were tested as possible bone marrow donors on August 21. Local English and Vietnamese media had been reporting for some time on the plight of John Le, a four year old boy who has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease that will kill him within six to twelve months unless a compatible donor is found to donate bone marrow. Le's best chance for a donation comes from his own ethnic group, but lack of information about Western medicine causes many Vietnamese to think they would become disabled if they donated bone marrow. "When we heard the news on the radio and on the newspaper, I talked with my council and brought this matter to the whole congregation, and asked if the congregation wanted to participate in the bone marrow drive," said Rev. Nguyen X. Bao, senior pastor of Saigon church. "Everybody, one hundred percent, raised their hands," said Bao. "The whole congregation stayed after services, even many people who were not qualified for the blood test stayed to support the others." According to literature from the National Marrow Donor Program, bone marrow donors must be in good general health, between 18 and 55 years old, and have never suffered from any diseases which could affect the health of the bone marrow. Most bone marrow donors are relatives, but data gathered by the National Marrow Donor Program is used to aid patients like John Le who have no relatives with compatible tissue types. Bao, a Vietnamese refugee whose congregation has largely been built through relief work and refugee resettlement programs, said Christians need to show their communities that Christianity makes a difference in their lives. "Love is shown not only by word, but also by deed," said Bao. "Last Sunday I preached a sermon that Jesus Christ died for us, and we should do what we can to help others," Bao said. "We praise God that people listen to our sermons and the Word of God, and now it's time to practice what they learn from the Word of God, to learn to love their neighbor like themselves." One person to whom Christian compassion has been clearly demonstrated is Loi Le, John Le's father. "He is a non-christian, he has never been in church before," said Bao. "He stood here the whole afternoon on Sunday, we had the opportunity to share the Word with him." According to Bao, Le stayed after church to pass out refreshments and was amazed by the number of church members who volunteered to be screened for bone marrow donations to his son. Contact List: Rev. Nguyen Xuan Bao, Pastor Saigon Reformed Presbyterian Church PO Box 813 Garden Grove, CA 92642 H/O: (714) 638-9619 FAX: (714) 636-0285 Leonard Huy Tran, Organizer Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches H: (714) 457-1560