This edition features stories about Asia, from the Himalayan mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan to China, Myanmar, and Japan.
Read or share the email edition or scroll down for individual stories.
Source: Beyond, December 7, 2022
One of the great joys in Joel and Becky’s work has been to see “Tazig” believers celebrate Christmas and remember God incarnate in their own culturally relevant ways.
Last year one of their teammates’ sisters returned to visit her Himalayan family. Priscilla’s sister has lived in the United States for the past ten years and has become an American citizen.
As Priscilla and the other Tazig believers were making plans for their Christmas celebration, her sister, Amrita, asked, “Oh, you are going to celebrate the English New Year?”
Priscilla replied, “No, we are making plans to celebrate Christmas when the Creator God came to the earth and lived as a human.”
Amrita never understood Christmas. For 10 years she had heard people in the United States say, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.” Since her people celebrate the Tibetan New Year over multiple days, she thought Christmas was just the start of our New Year’s celebrations. Amrita had never heard the Christmas story.
Thankfully, Priscilla told her about God sending his Son to the earth and all about Christmas. A few days later, Amrita joined the Tazig Christmas celebration, knowing for the first time what it was all about.
Read the full story and ask yourself if there might be someone in your life who doesn’t know the reason we celebrate Christmas.
Source: Christian Today, December 13, 2022
Today almost 30 percent of the population in Kazakhstan is Christian. While the majority are still from a non-Kazakh background, the number of Kazakhs who confess to following Jesus Christ as their Lord is growing.
The number of evangelical registered churches in Kazakhstan today stands at approximately 400, including all Russian-speaking and Kazakh-speaking churches. The vast majority of them belong to the Evangelical Alliance of Kazakhstan (EAK). You will find ethnic Kazakhs in almost all of the evangelical churches today, about 100 of which are registered Kazakh churches.
The Kurultay (convention) of Kazakh pastors is one of the most important annual meetings in Kazakhstan. They come together to fellowship with each other and discuss the most important current issues among the Kazakh-speaking population. And they share with each other the problems that hinder the growth of God’s kingdom in the country.
“We believe that God has positioned us strategically and given us, the Christians of Kazakhstan, a missionary calling to take the good news to Muslim peoples living near and far. Kurultay organizes short-term missionary trips and sends long-term missionaries. This happens not only within Kazakhstan but also outside of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstani pastors and missionaries go to other countries of the Turkic world because of our cultural affinity and religious background to plant churches,” [says the leader of the Kurultay].
Got about 15 minutes? Listen to David Garrison and Zane Pratt talk about Christianity in Central Asia, or as Garrison calls it, Turkestan (Maverick Podcast).
From neighboring Mongolia, read East Asian Believers Spread Christmas Message in Spite of Bitter Cold (International Mission Board).
Source: Christian Aid Mission, December 15, 2022
When a local Christian worker in Burma (Myanmar) visiting homes knocked on one door in the country devastated by a military coup, he didn’t realize a military family lived there.
Area residents were resentful and/or terrified of the family since the February 2021 coup unleashed havoc in the country—protests, crackdowns, and sheer random violence left many areas paralyzed.
“This family had the feeling that they were isolated because military personnel were hated by all the people,” the leader of a native ministry said.
The worker had visited other homes with the gospel and had seen families put their faith in Christ.
“Lastly he happened to reach the home of a retired lieutenant and his family—usually no one visited this family,” the leader said. “When he visited them not knowing who they were, the family was so happy for his visit.”
The worker told them how God’s love and salvation were available for all who came to him in repentance. Touched by the worker’s kindness, the family invited him to visit them again.
“He lovingly visited them, and they invited him to visit again and again,” the leader said. “And finally the retired lieutenant came to faith in Christ and received believer’s baptism. Now this man invites their neighbors to his home, and they have believers’ fellowship every Sunday, and sometimes on Saturday also.”
An update from the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin asks us to pray for a Christian leader in Burma. Reverend Dr. Hkalam Samson, former chairman of the Kachin Baptist Convention and current chairman of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, was arrested on December 4.
Source: ChinaSource Quarterly, Winter 2022
At a recent gathering of more than 100 China ministry professionals, I was struck by how many of the attendees operated with the assumption that the era of expatriates living and ministering within China’s borders was over. Only a handful of those in attendance had any plans to live and work in China while most of the conference focused on ministering from a distance.
While there is real value to serving the Chinese church remotely, is it the case that expatriate Christians can no longer live and minister within China?
The full story makes a case that there is still room for foreign expatriates to serve in China, despite many challenges. For a closer look at the challenges and opportunities facing Chinese missionaries, read Where Is the Chinese Missionary Movement Headed in the New Era?
You might also want to read A Voice From China—Interview with a Senior House Church Leader, which is quite interesting and grapples with some of the same issues (Asia Harvest). See also Six Reasons Why We Should Listen to Christians from around the Globe (OMF).
In this edition:
Hi there, friends.
How are you doing? Full of Christmas cheer? Or maybe your holiday stress is running high. Could be you have no time for email. Good news, though: this is a quick one. Snag what you can use and carry on.
Blessings,
Marti
Source: The Gospel Coalition
Christmas has everything to do with missions, says David Platt. He challenges Christians to reflect at Christmas on the many people around the world who still have not heard the good news of the gospel.
Watch the video (or click on the image below). It’s just a few minutes long.
You might also be encouraged by a recent article from The Gospel Coalition, 4 Ways to “Be Still and Know” This Christmas. It’s a reflection on Psalm 46 and its implications for Christmas and God’s global mission.
Source: OSCAR
Christmas is a great time to reach out and connect with a missionary you know! OK, maybe any time is. But as you’re looking through your Christmas list, consider if one or more of these items should be added. The article is from Mike Frith at OSCAR, the UK mission information service.
Read the brief article, then browse OSCAR’s Christmas resource list.
It’s probably too late to post packages. But you can still bless friends abroad in other ways. Any of these might be much appreciated.
Source: Upstream Collective
Far from home and feeling a bit down about it? Maybe you could use some words of lament to speak and pray. Upstream published some last year.
Take a look and download the liturgy to use with your team or family or share with a friend.
See also A Liturgy for When a Loved One Is Ailing Back Home.
Source: Wycliffe Bible Translators
Kids off school next week? Consider taking the time to dive into Scripture as a family with this five-day family devotional. Each day, enjoy a short, Scripture-based teaching, questions to answer together and a fun activity (including a few international recipes).
Download the 11-page PDF, The Best Gift Ever: A 5-Day Christmas Devotional with Kate & Mack devotional. No registration required.
Also see Kate & Mack’s 12 Days of Christmas (a look at Christmas traditions around the world) and other Wycliffe resources for kids.
