October 2006
East Asia
This month, all across China, people will be celebrating
National Day. This is a day when the Chinese com¬
memorate the communist revolution that established
the People's Republic of China. Yet, an unseen inner
revolution also is sweeping across the land, freeing peo¬
ple's hearts to praise and serve the Lord. The government
continues to try to control the growth of the church by
controlling the number of church buildings, limiting the
number of seminary students and persecuting the unregis¬
tered house churches. Despite these measures, the Chinese
church has continued to grow rapidly, doubling every few
years. Many local believers also have accepted the task to
reach their lost neighbors and have been passionate doing
so. However, as a child is bom every 1.5 seconds, the num¬
ber of children bom each year in China exceeds the total
population of Texas. More than 1 billion people still have
not heard the name of Jesus Christ. The task is great and
the spiritual needs are tremendous. Nevertheless, we know
that God has a magnificent plan and we invite you to join
us in praying and reaching every tribe, people and lan¬
guage of East Asia for the kingdom of God.
I will praise you,
О
Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all
your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing
praise to your name,
О
Most High (Psalm 9:1-2, NIV).
1 ZHUANG OF CHINA. Today has been set aside as a day
I of prayer and fasting for the Zhuang of southern China,
the largest minority group in China. There are approximately
17 million Zhuang. They are the largest people group in the
world without a Bible in their own language. They live pri¬
marily in western Guangxi Province or eastern Yunan Prov¬
ince. For many, farming in the terraced mountain regions is
a way of life. Their average annual income is $239 per per¬
son. Music is a vital part of Zhuang culture. Songs are sung
about every aspect of Zhuang life, but sadly, there are no
Christian songs written in their unique style. The rural
Zhuang are animists and worship stones, old trees, lands,
birds, and ancestors. Witchcraft, magic and shamans are
very much a part of their lives. The Zhuang in the cities are
mostly atheists. Most Zhuang are responsive to the Gospel,
and in some areas the church is taking root and beginning
to grow. In most areas, very little work has been done
among the Zhuang, and workers are desperately needed.
Pray for the evangelization of the Zhuang.
П
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BOOD-uh-pest). "J is a young
L wife and mother," writes Team Budapest. "A kind and
sweet woman, some members of our team have enjoyed
getting to know her as both of their children go to the same
kindergarten. After a spiritually centered conversation, J re¬
vealed that she was an atheist and simply did not see any
need for God. She is typical of most Hungarian atheists.
They are not combative or aggressive. They just do not be¬
lieve there is a God. Pray for these thousands of people who
live in 'comfortable' yet willful ignorance. Pray that God
will open their eyes to the truth of His existence and to the
love that He has for them."
П
CULTS IN SOUTHERN CHINA. The Eastern Lightning
и
cult has been targeting house church believers. They are
deceitful in how they work and truly are wolves in sheep's
clothing. They use any means possible including money,
intense brainwashing, sexual entrapment, torture and beat¬
ing to convince ungrounded Christians the ways of the cult.
Please pray that God will protect His children from this evil
cult and that His kingdom would be advanced in the midst
of these difficulties.
Л
UGANDA BAPTIST SEMINARY AND BIBLE SCHOOLS.
I Please pray for students who live and minister in the
camps for displaced people in northern Uganda. Pray that
they will see God's hand of provision and protection even
when they don't seem to have enough food and there are
reports of rebels in the area. Pray that believers in the camps
will be strengthened in their knowledge of God's Word so
that when they are able to return to their villages, they will
be ready to spread the Gospel.
5 MONGOLIA (north of China). Mongolia has a population
of 2 million with half of the population still living as no¬
madic or semi-nomadic herdsmen, just as they have done for
centuries. Pray that these precious people will hear the Good
News of Jesus and will come to know and glorify Him as
their Creator. To that end, please pray for God to provide
laborers, both Mongol and foreigners, for this great nomadic
harvest field. Pray that believers will be bold and willing to
do whatever it takes to see every Mongol glorify Him.
6 PUNJABIS OF INDIA (pun-JAH-bees). Recently, local pas¬
tors received a new discipleship tool. The tool included
several Bible stories that help explain who can become part
of the family of God. The men were excited to receive this
tool, and after some studying of their own, they took this set
