SOUTH POINT — In many ways it’s become a forgotten country. Vietnam. The once war-torn place that divided the United States for decades.

Now,

the closeted Christian community in that Asian country is getting a helping hand from a group of United Methodists in this country, including a church locally.

This Saturday South Point United Methodist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Bill Bentley, will hold a special fund-raiser with a goal to financially aid the building of a training center for the United Methodist leadership in Vietnam. With this center, the leadership will be able to be recognized legally.

“It will be a leadership training center for lay and clergy,” Bentley said. “It is one of those grass roots things we smile about. But they are so new. Much like the early church.”

The South Point church is teaming up with 167 other Methodist churches in nine area counties with the goal of contributing $140,000 to the

cause.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. the church will offer a spaghetti dinner at its fellowship hall for $5. Then at 6:15, an auction will be held with a variety of items up for bid including handmade quilts, stained glass objects, certificates for homemade pecan pies and two pen and ink sketches from Vietnam owned by a parishioner whose husband sent them to her when he was on a tour of duty in the country.

“She chose to donate those. It makes them one of the those full circle kinds of things,” Bentley said. “Something from Vietnam to help the people in Vietnam.”

Bentley’s church has set a goal of reaching $1,800 as its part of the contribution.

“We’re going to give it our best shot … high or low … you have done your best,” he said. “But I hope we hit at least $1,500.”