Pop quiz: Are you familiar with Eid* al-*Fitr? How about *Diwali? Why is *Visakah *Puja celebrated?
If you're anything like most Americans, you (we) couldn't really answer those questions. Christianity is the predominant religion in our country, and its holidays are the only ones we know much about. We've never heard of most of the Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist holidays such as the ones listed above.
Imagine it were reversed. What if you lived in a place where Easter wasn't talked about? That's what it's like for many of the Beng people. Some of them have heard of Easter and maybe a few could tell you why it's celebrated, but the majority are altogether unfamiliar with this eternally significant holiday.
Let's pray this Easter that God would give the Beng Christians many opportunities to share with friends and neighbors what Easter is all about and that many would come to faith in Christ as a result.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
March prayer requests
This week is the annual missions conference at my church. It's always an exciting time- exciting to hear about what God is doing in other parts of the world and hear stories of people's lives being transformed as they give their lives to Him.
The missionary who is visiting this week spoke on Sunday of his service in a country in Asia. At the present time the government of this country is allowing missionaries/ development workers, but they don't know how long this window of opportunity will be there. They are trying to train leaders in that country so that when or if the "missionaries" have to leave, the church will continue to grow and flourish, with nationals serving as missionaries in their own country.
That is in fact what has happened in other countries in Asia. Missionaries have been forced to leave, but the number of Christians has continued to grow. Praise God for this exciting phenomenon!
As this man spoke, I couldn't help but think of the Beng. When I last visited them 9 years ago, there was a small number of Christians in a few villages. I pray that when I or someone else next visits the Beng, they will find that the number of Christians among the Beng has grown exponentially and that they are growing and thriving. Would you pray with me?
The missionary who is visiting this week spoke on Sunday of his service in a country in Asia. At the present time the government of this country is allowing missionaries/ development workers, but they don't know how long this window of opportunity will be there. They are trying to train leaders in that country so that when or if the "missionaries" have to leave, the church will continue to grow and flourish, with nationals serving as missionaries in their own country.
That is in fact what has happened in other countries in Asia. Missionaries have been forced to leave, but the number of Christians has continued to grow. Praise God for this exciting phenomenon!
As this man spoke, I couldn't help but think of the Beng. When I last visited them 9 years ago, there was a small number of Christians in a few villages. I pray that when I or someone else next visits the Beng, they will find that the number of Christians among the Beng has grown exponentially and that they are growing and thriving. Would you pray with me?
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