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The Heavenly Man ISBN: 9781903689233 The intensely dramatic story of how God took a young, half-starved boy from a poor village and used him mightily to preach the gospel despite horrific opposition. Brother Yun is one of ’s house church leaders, a man who, despite his relative youth, has suffered prolonged torture and imprisonment for his faith. His account challenges any complacency about the situation in China where international investment ignores the brutal fact that religious persecution is still a daily reality for millions.

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Peoples of the Buddhist World ISBN: 9780878083619 Paul Hattaway has collected the availableable information on all the Buddhist people groupsups of the world into this invaluable resource fforor mission strategists, Bible translators andnd intercessors. Readers will learn about thehe different forms of Buddhism, where andd how they are practiced, and what speciall challenges each presents for Christians who want to bring the good news of Jesus to Buddhists.

Our Price: $19.99

www.missionbooks.org 1-800-MISSION Become a Daily World Christian

What is the Global Prayer Digest? Loose Change Adds Up! Th e Global Prayer Digest is a unique devotion- In adapting the Burma Plan to our culture, al booklet. Each day it gives a glimpse we have simply substituted loose change of what God is doing around the world for rice and have added this educational and what still remains to be done. Daily and inspirational Global Prayer Digest. One prayer for that still-unfi nished task is at person’s loose change will average about the heart of the Adopt-A-People move- $100 per year exclusively for frontier ment. Condensed missionary stories, missions! When the national goal of one biblical challenges, urgent reports, and million Adopt-A-People Prayer Partners is exciting descriptions of unreached peo- reached, that will mean $100 million more ples provide a digest of rich fuel for your per year for the frontiers! own times of prayer for the world. Become a Daily World Christian Th e Global Prayer Digest is a key tool in a Devotional Ideas movement to help fulfi ll Christ’s com- How can you make the most of this prayer digest: mission to make disciples of all the peo- ples of the earth. Th is movement involves • Some people use it as a a daily discipline of learning, praying, and supplement to their regular giving to help reach the world’s nearly devotional time. 10,000 unreached people groups. Un- • Others enjoy reading and reached peoples are those groups which praying around the dinner table do not yet have a strong church in their with the entire family. own cultural and social setting. • We encourage you to gather Myanmar, Mothers and the monthly with other Christ Frontier Fellowship Movement friends who are involved in this Th e Frontier Fellowship Movement movement. is an adaptation of a custom among • Join the “Frontier Fellowship tribal Christians in Burma (now called movement” (left), a version of Myanmar) and elsewhere. As the the Burma Plan, to fi nancially mother in each family prepares meals support frontier missions. for her family, she sets aside a hand- Every day at the top of the page ful of rice in a special container, and you’ll fi nd the name of an unreached prays for their church’s missionaries to people group for which to pray. Th e unreached people groups. Rice from small maps will help you locate the families in the church is sold to support day’s feature. their frontier missionaries.

3 Editorial March 2013 RECORDS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS U.S. Center for World Mission 1605 East Elizabeth Street Dear Praying Friends, Pasadena, CA 91104-2721 Tel: (330) 626-3361 Th ere are things we must [email protected] remember when we pray for MANAGING EDITOR any given city. Th ere will Keith Carey be good things happening ASSISTANT EDITOR in the city, and some things Paula Fern which may appear to work WRITERS against God’s purposes. Th is Glenn Culbertson month’s prayer entries will cite Patricia Depew examples of violence against non- in Moscow, Patti Ediger Wesley Kawato a city of 11 million. Skinhead thugs feel threatened Arlene Knickerbocker by those whom they consider to be competitors for Esther Jerome-Dharmaraj scarce jobs. Th e Russian Orthodox Church isn’t Christopher Lane Annabeth Lewis always welcoming and extending open arms as Jesus’ Charles Newcombe ambassador to the less fortunate immigrants seeking Ted Proffi tt employment and a way forward in their lifes. Th us many Lydia Reynolds Jeff Rockwell of the , Hindus, and Jews in Moscow view Jean Smith “Christians” as less than helpful and possibly as enemies. Jane W. Sveska But we should never forget the remnant, those who DAILY BIBLE COMMENTARIES joyfully obey Christ’s command to take the gospel to Dave Dougherty, Director of Plans and Training, OMF Intl. the nations. Pray for eff orts by Russian believers who Keith Carey, Managing Editor, GPD understand that the unreached in Moscow can be CUSTOMER SERVICE reached for His Kingdom. Dan Eddy

As we pray for the people in Moscow, let’s not forget GRAPHICS to pray for a spiritual renewal of the Russian Orthodox Amanda Valloza Church. Th is is a sleeping giant that can potentially PRINTER be a light to the many unreached people groups, if Diversifi ed Printers , La Mirada, CA only they would be Christ’s ambassadors to the many WEB SITE unreached peoples within her own borders. www.globalprayerdigest.org

In Christ, ISSN 1045-9731 Contents of the Global Prayer Digest © 2013 U.S. Center for World Mission 1605 East Elizabeth Street Pasadena, CA 91104

Contents of this booklet may be reproduced if appropriate credit and Keith Carey subscription information are given.

Managing Editor For subscription information, GPD call (330) 626-3361. For comments on content, call (626) 398-2241.

Cover photo: 4 shutterstock.com/ Evlakhov Valeriy Feature of the Month

Pray for a Christ-Centered Fellowship Among Every People in Moscow

SWEDEN

FINLAND

Moscow

RUSSIA

KAZAKHSTAN

5 To Help You Pray Better 6 Used with permission from a a from permission with Used Backgroundhouse church in Moscow , , Dagestanis, , Turks, and , Turkmenistan, and . Azeris, Union:poor republics oftheformerSoviet , Most immigrantMuslimscome from thedesperately Where dothey come from? intheworld. Muslim country Moscow, couldo andRussia it isestimatedthatfi to become Muslimcity. apredominantly Currently, of anyEuropean city. By2050, Moscowispredicted In fact, Moscow hasthelargest Muslimpopulation many diff past inthemetros andmarkets, you willnoticethat If you takeaminutetowatchthepeoplethatrush Perhaps though, theseare notthegreatest changes. sought after. are AlcoholismandAIDS rampant. extravagant brandsare sold. Moneyisfl necessities intoametropolitan area where exclusive, basic lacking Moscow hasbeentransformedfrom acity changing.itself israpidly thepasttwo decades, Over Yet thefaceofRussia thefaceofMoscow andeven M steaming teaandpinkborschsoup. hats,furry theirchests decoratedwithmedals, orcupsof to mindsolemnpaintingsoficons, warveterans with protecting golden-domed churches. Moscowmay bring Cathedral comestomind, ortheimpressive Kremlin walls St. colorful Moscow andapicture oftheintricately Basil’s Muslims ofMoscow erent nationalities are minglinginMoscow. and itsarchitectural masterpieces. Th of itspeoplethroughperseverance hardships, history,oscow isknownforitsrich the ve millionMuslimsreside in ne daybecomethelargest aunted and ink of Muslims of Moscow

Uighurs are just a few of the many groups that live in Moscow. Over 50 diff erent Muslim people groups call their home, and the size of these groups range from 100 people to over 5 million! http://goo.gl/mZVo1. Why are they coming to Moscow? It is estimated that between 800,000 and two million illegal immigrants walk the streets of Moscow every day, and between 2-6 million immigrants live throughout Russia. Th e average salary in Tajikistan and Afghanistan is often less than $30 per month, and jobs are scarce. Th e lure of Moscow’s wealth is often the only hope for survival. Willing to take the most menial of jobs, they are employed throughout the city for meager wages. Street sweepers, construction workers, janitorial workers, clerks, drivers, trash collectors, and factory workers are just some of the jobs they fi ll. What are living conditions like for Muslims in Moscow? Since Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, life is understandably hard for migrants. In many cases up to 40 Central Asians will share an apartment and live as simply as possible, so that they can send money to their families at home. Th ere is also a growing resentment and fear towards immigrants in Moscow. Hate crimes against Central Asians have been steadily increasing. Beatings, murders, and even bombings against Central Asians by “neo-Nazis” are all too-common news stories. In 2006, 539 hate crimes were directed toward Muslims, mostly Central Asians and people of the North Caucasus. Many crimes, however, go unreported, because the victims fear being deported by the authorities. It is also common to hear of employers refusing to pay Central Asians for their labor or taking their passports and holding them in a sort of modern-day slavery. Since most of them are there illegally, they have no recourse. Still, the tide of immigrants continues to fl ood Moscow because the prospects at home are so bleak. Th ey are willing to risk hatred, suspicion, and injustice for the chance to provide for their families or fi nd a “better” life. Are there believers among these people groups in their homeland? Only about 0.025 percent of are believers. Less than two percent of the Afghans, , Kyrgyz, or Kazakhs are evangelical Christians. In all of these countries persecution is a very real threat. Afghanistan and Uzbekistan are among the top ten ranked countries in the world that support persecution towards believers. , Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan are also in the top 50 countries in the

continued on next page 7 Muslims of Moscow

world where Christians are harshly treated. In Moscow, there are a handful of evangelical Christian churches/small house groups that are Central Asian. Out of this handful, the majority are Kyrgyz churches. Th ere is a tremendous need for discipleship among the new Central Asian/Muslim- background believers. Are Muslims in Moscow being reached with the gospel? As far as is known, only a handful of workers are specifi cally reaching out to Muslims in Moscow. Th e door is open, the hearts of Muslims are open, yet there is a desperate need for more workers, especially workers who can speak the heart languages of these Muslims (i.e. Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tajik, Afghan, Kazakh, Azeri, Tatar, etc.). Why is Moscow so strategic for reaching Muslims? Moscow is currently an open door for reaching out to Muslims from closed, hard to reach countries, and has been described as “the soft under-belly of .” Not only are most Muslims in Moscow separated from family and cultural pressures (and more open to the gospel) but persecution which is prevalent in most Muslim countries is not a factor in Moscow. Since Muslims in Moscow are usually immigrants, they are often overwhelmed with life in such a big city, lonesome for family, and seeking friendship. Friendships that may take years to build in other countries can often develop quickly by off ering help and hospitality. Also, many diff erent people groups are represented in Moscow. It can be a great opportunity for many nations to be reached from one city and believing immigrants can take the gospel to their home countries. What resources are available for reaching Muslims in Moscow? Th e JESUS Film and the recent Mary Magdalene DVD are the main resources that have been translated into most of the diff erent languages in Moscow. DVDs are readily received as gifts and have been useful for distribution. Some people groups have the full Bible available to them, while some only have portions of the Scriptures. Th ere is a recent translation of the Scriptures that is culturally attractive and well-received, known as the CARS Bible (Central-Asian Russian Scriptures). It is only useful to Muslims who can easily read and understand the . Since many Muslims come from oral-based cultures, audio Scriptures, along with audio chronological Biblical stories, are very useful tools in evangelization and discipleship and are available in many diff erent languages. To see available resources, go here and then click on the “Languages” tab: http://goo.gl/Il9Mo

88 Muslims of Moscow

What are the barriers to reaching Muslims in Moscow? It is amazing how open Muslims in Moscow are, whether it be to broad sowing (giving out a Bible or DVD, etc. to someone you meet) or for developing more long-term friendships and discipleship. Currently, there is a great need for additional workers, especially those that can speak the heart language of Muslims in Moscow. Th ere is a need for funds and the translation of printed materials, such as the CARS Bible or a portion of the Tajik Scriptures that is ready and waiting to be printed. Another need is for mature, national believers who can reach out to their own people. Finding an adequate meeting place can sometimes be a hindrance. With rental properties being some of the most expensive in the world, other creative alternatives, such as house churches, must be explored. How can we pray for Muslims in Moscow? • Pray for more workers, national and foreign, to reach Muslims in Moscow. • Pray for the spiritual and physical health of workers already in Moscow. • Pray for the provision and translation of Scriptures and other needed materials and resources in the languages of the many people groups representing Muslims in Moscow. • Pray for Russian speaking churches in Moscow (and throughout Russia) to have a compelling vision, plan, and desire to make disciples of ALL nations.GPD

Some excellent sources: • Islam in Russia http://goo.gl/ff Hr3 • Joshua Project http://goo.gl/Il9Mo • Foreigners Census in Moscow http://gstudynet.org/gum/Russia/ Moscow2002.htm • Migration Information http://www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/ GCMM/Moscowdatasheet.pdf • Various Articles About Central Asians Living in Russia http://enews. ferghana.ru/index.php?did=9&bracket_fl ag=1 • Muslim Majority in 2050? http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2005/08/ predicting-a-majority-muslim-russia • Immigrants Make Up 10 percent of Work Force http://www. themoscowtimes.com/business/business_for_business/article/ immigrants-make-up-10-of-work-force/402971.html • Hate Crimes in Moscow in 2008 Up Six-Fold http://en.rian.ru/ russia/20080725/114898259.html

9 Day 1 Acts 17:22 Missionary Biography— Bill Kapitaniuk

he elderly guest in the Kapitaniuk’s home said Paul then stood up in the to Bill Kapitaniuk and his two brothers, “I’d meeting of the Areopagus T like to pray for you. Would you like to accept Christ and said: “Men of Athens! into your hearts?” Mainly to be polite, the boys knelt I see that in every way you around the table and prayed. Something happened to are very religious.” Bill that day. Throughout the world, Bill was born in the in the U.S.S.R. in 1928. missionaries encounter As Communism consolidated its hold on the Soviet members of unreached Union, his family fl ed to Poland and from there people groups who are “very emigrated to Canada. After high school, Bill decided to study the Bible at Prairie Bible Institute in Th ree religious,” just like the people Hills, Alberta. To help pay expenses, he mended of Athens. Is “being religious” shoes, using old tires to repair boots. a step in the right direction? One day Peter Deyneka, founder of the Slavic In this case, it didn’t seem Gospel Association, spoke at Prairie Bible Institute. to be since only a few from In closing, he spoke of the Slavic people in Europe’s Athens became followers as a displaced persons camps. “World War II has left result of Paul’s preaching. He thousands of them destitute, homeless, jobless, didn’t spend much time with and without spiritual resources,” he said. “Th ey are them, but instead went on to hungry to hear of a God who loves them and cares Corinth where he hoped to fi nd about what happened to them.” Bill Kapitaniuk had spiritually hungry hearts. Yet heard many missionary speakers at Prairie Bible Institute. But none had ever spoken of where he had there are people out there who been born. have spiritual questions, and have no answers except those But when Peter Deyneka spoke of the needs of the Slavic people in the displaced persons’ camps in Europe, given by “religion.” How will his heart felt strangely drawn. He spoke Polish before our missionaries fi nd them? he spoke English. Being Slavic in background, he understood that culture and wouldn’t need to spend Pray that the Lord will years preparing. He could start right away! lead today’s workers to the “religious” people who are sincerely looking for truth Pray for the Holy Spirit to prompt His ambassadors to go and righteousness. to the mission fi eld this very year.

10 Day 2 Missionary Biography, Continued Acts 20:25

y 1952, Bill Kapitaniuk was in Germany ready to Now I know that none of you begin work. Th ere, in 1956, he married Sophie B among whom I have gone Bobel, a Christian Jew, who became the mother of about preaching the Kingdom their eight sons. will ever see me again. In 1957, hearing there was now freedom to travel in Poland, Bill left Sophie and their new baby and headed It is sad when a missionary for Eastern Europe. At fi rst it wasn’t easy to get the leaves the people to whom he Polish people to trust him. Few foreigners came to was sent, a people whom he Poland, and they were not ready to unreservedly accept has come to love. When the as an authentic Christian anyone who arrived on their church is planted and able to doorstep. But after “fi lling in” at a church meeting on sustain itself, and willing and a Sunday morning, Bill was deluged with invitations to speak all over the country. Bill was impressed with able to send evangelists and “their warmth, their hospitality, their eagerness and missionaries on its own, the willingness to hear the gospel,” and when he saw their missionary’s task is complete. hunger for spiritual things, he knew why God had sent But that church needs our him back to Poland. prayers to grow in the grace Everywhere Bill traveled in Eastern Europe he found and knowledge of God and the people tremendously hungry for the Word of to reach out to other peoples God. All the Christians, especially in the Soviet who have no churches. Union, wanted Bibles so desperately that several Eastern European Christians said they were willing Pray that existing churches, to smuggle Bibles across the border, even though they including younger churches knew that if caught, they might be thrown in prison. in the non-Western world, may continue to fl ourish and Pray that those smuggling Bibles into closed countries will to commission workers to not get caught, and the Bibles will fi nd their way to spiri- the unreached peoples. tually hungry people.

11 Day 3 Acts 18:6 Missionary Biography, Continued

ne day in 1969, while trying to cross the border From now on I will go to into Hungary with a station wagon full of the Gentiles. O contraband Bibles, Bill began to envision a depot Paul was in Corinth preaching stocked with thousands of Bibles and Christian in the synagogue and books for Eastern Europe. He claimed the promise, “I will go before you and make the rough places “solemnly testifying to the smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut Jews that Jesus was the through their iron bars” (Isaiah 45:2). “Couldn’t the Messiah.” They resisted him ‘iron bars’ be the Iron Curtain?” he wondered. and blasphemed. He was Stamped in bold letters across Bill Kapitaniuk’s then free to go to the Gentiles application for a Polish visa were the words, “Persona with a clear conscience. Paul’s non grata.” Th e offi cial told him, “Your Polish visa example holds lessons for us. has been denied.” For some time now, Bill had been He was intent on focusing on responsible for taking large quantities of Bibles and those who were responsive books into Poland, where Christians living on the to the good news. His cry and Soviet border carried them into the . the cry of many today is, “How Bill suspected that the Russian authorities knew he was providing these books. Stuck now in France, he can I stay among a people knew it was time to start the launching pad he had who have every chance to previously dreamed of. hear the gospel, yet reject it, By 1984 Bill had a professional off set press and when so many have not yet the personnel needed for all phases of the printing had one chance to hear?” operation. Almost immediately the presses were Pray that the Holy Spirit will running at full speed. Within weeks they had guide us to both the resistant printed 27,000 Polish Illustrated New Testaments. and the responsive peoples Before two years had passed, Bill and his crew had of our day. transported over 150,000 of these New Testaments into Poland.—AL from “God’s Printer For Poland,” Bill Kapitaniuk’s story as told to Halyna Smith, Baker Book House, 1987.

Pray that these same Bibles will continue to be read throughout Poland.

12 Day 4 Muslim Dungan (Hui) People in Moscow John 12:32-33

mmanuil, a Russian KAZAKHSTAN And I, when I am lifted up follower of Christ, KYRGYZSTAN I from the earth, will draw greets Ibrahim, a Dungan all people to myself. CHINA shopkeeper. “Welcome back, my friend. How was He said this to show the kind IRAN your trip?” Ibrahim smiled of death He was going to and replied, “My sister got die. As we prepare for Good married. Th at is why I was gone so long.” Ibrahim was Friday later this month, let KAZAKHSTAN eager to talk so Immanuil us be reminded of why Jesus listened. “Last year we had to die. Yes, He died to pay KYRGYZSTAN celebrated gi hua when she for our sins. But this death consented to the marriage. would also draw men to Him. CHINA Th is trip was for the actual They would be drawn to Him wedding that lasted four because of His payment for days. At the culmination their sins. But fi rst they must my sister arrived at her new husband’s home. Th en everyone enjoyed a special wedding dish called shi. know who He is (the only Son Did you know we are famous for our cooking?” of God), and why His death is so essential to reconciliation Th ese men live in Moscow. But Ibrahim’s group live far away in Kyrgyzstan and with God. Kazakhstan. Very few of his people live in Moscow. Pray that the Dungan people Th e Dungan people call themselves “Hui,” recalling in Russia will hear of Christ’s their ancestry from northwestern China. Th ey death and be drawn to migrated from their homeland in three successive Him when they see Russian waves in the 1800s. Christians celebrating Easter. Th eir parents’ generation remained loyal to Islam. But Ibrahim and his friends are Muslim in name only. Followers of Christ like Immanuil (meaning “God with us”) build friendships with the Dungan/ while they pray for opportunities to tell them that Jesus died for their sins.

Pray that God will give creative strategies and ideas to win the younger Dungan generation. Ask the Lord to send out more laborers to work among the Dungan people. Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin plowing the spiritual soil through worship and intercession.—GEC 13 Day 5 Acts 17:30 Muslim Uighur People in Moscow

oger enters the narrow In the past God overlooked sidewalk café. Paintings such ignorance, but now R show musicians with beards He commands all people and turbans playing various everywhere to repent. instruments while women and Repentance for sin is the key men lift their hands in a dance. Overhead a video shows to salvation. In this statement, similar dances performed Paul gave the Athenians the today. Th e hostess asks a gospel in a nutshell. If you do question in Russian. Roger

any witnessing, you may be International Create replies, “Sorry. English?” She A Uighur man shocked by how many people shakes her head, no, and walks with a secular background away. Soon a young man appears speaking perfect don’t understand that it’s English, “How may I help you?” Eventually Roger not “being a good person” enjoys a meal featuring lamb kebabs, plus a spicy noodle dish also with lamb and vegetables. but repenting from sin that is the key. A religious Uighur During the meal Roger chats with the English Muslim would view sin as a speaking young man. “What can you tell me about Uighurs?” he asks. “Most of our people live in serious issue and would look northwestern China along the ancient Silk Road. to the Qur’an for answers. But However, we have expanded throughout . a secularized one would not Our noodles that you enjoyed gave Marco Polo the fi nd salvation or repentance to inspiration for what you now know as pasta.” be relevant issues. Th e Uighurs in Moscow form a small community. Th ey are not devout Muslims, but they have been Pray for spiritual hunger for taught that Christians are their enemies. Uighurs who secularized Uighur people. grew up in the Communist Soviet Union heard the May they hunger and thirst additional message that there is no God. Such barriers for true righteousness. make them suspicious of anyone who identifi es with Jesus. Th e Bible is available in hard copy as well as digital form in the Uighur language. Th ere are no known believers among them.

Pray that the Lord will call laborers to share Christ with the Uighur people. Ask God to grant favor to mission agencies focusing on Uighurs. Ask God to anoint Christian radio broadcasts.—GEC

14 Day 6 Buddhist-Shintoist Japanese People in Moscow Acts 1:7, 8

itsui, a Japanese college It is not for you to know the student in Moscow, sat M times or dates…. But you in his dorm room and typed will receive power when on his computer in Anglicized Japanese. “Hello, my name is the Holy Spirit comes on Mitsui. Is there anyone out there you; and you will be my who can help me learn Russian?” witnesses…to the ends of Mitsui was having problems in the earth. his Russian language class. His Here Jesus answered the classmates were foreigners like himself, and they had question, “Lord, are you at their own problems with the class. Th e professor was some help, but what Mitsui really needed were native this time going to restore the Russian language speakers with whom he could practice kingdom to Israel?” (v. 6). He his Russian language skills. said that the times and the Mitsui was also lonely. He missed his parents dates for His return are known and siblings in Tokyo. Mitsui gazed up at the only by the Father. Two things ceiling, wondering if God existed. He hadn’t been we do know, however. We very religious back home in Japan, but now in his will receive the power of the loneliness, he was thinking that maybe he was wrong. Holy Spirit, and by that power Since the fall of Communism in Russia in 1991, we will be His witnesses, Japan and Russia have had friendly contacts. Japanese beginning where we are and companies have opened stores and factories all over moving out to the ends of the Russia. In increasing numbers Japanese students earth. Let us yield ourselves have enrolled in Russian universities. Often Russians fully to this commission, are uneasy about being with foreigners, so many Japanese in Moscow fi nd themselves alone. Like their empowered by His Spirit until countrymen in Japan, most Japanese are Buddhists, if people from every nation they are religious at all. acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Then His Kingdom will come Pray that Russian believers will be led by God to reach out with fullness and glory. to visitors from Japan with love and friendship. Th ere is an open door for campus ministries. Pray that the Holy Pray that the Father will Spirit will give the Japanese in Moscow a hunger for truth move His Church by the and righteousness.—WK power of His Holy Spirit in Japan, Russia, and wherever else the gospel needs to be preached.

15 Day 7 Acts 2:17 Buddhist Kalmyk People in Moscow

he hair on the back of Dolgan’s neck stood up I will pour out My Spirit on when he passed a group of Russian skinheads. all people. T At fi rst they started to call him a “Muslim pig,” In Acts 1:5, Jesus explained before they noticed his eyes. Th en they walked past to His disciples that they him with bewildered looks on their faces. would be “baptized with the Dolgan always felt diff erent. He lives in Moscow but Holy Spirit.” Elsewhere, Jesus he looks Asian. Dolgan is from the Kalmyk people described the Holy Spirit as a group. Th e speak a language that more “helper” for those who follow closely resembles Mongolian than Russian, even though they live in Europe. Him. Peter’s fi rst sermon, after the empowering of Th e Kalmyks are the only established Buddhist the Holy Spirit on the day of people group in Europe. Th ey live near the between the Volga and Don Rivers. Th is people Pentecost, was based on Joel group has been Buddhist since the 17th century 2:28-32. According to Peter, when Buddhist missionaries from Tibet contacted this outpouring of the Spirit them. When Dolgan walks into a Buddhist temple, was the fulfi llment of Joel’s he listens to a lama from India preach and chant. prophecy—that the Holy Th e Kalmyks have fought for Russia since Napoleon’s Spirit would be poured out invasion of Russia in 1812. Some of these soldiers upon all people. He follows his settled in western Russian cities and brought their reference to Joel’s passage with families with them. Today some western Russian a provocative conclusion: “then cities like Moscow have large Kalmyk communities. everyone (whether Jew or Gentile) who calls on the Name May this people group realize that Jesus Christ, not Buddha, has the answers. Pray that the Kalymks will of the Lord will be saved.” thirst for the water of life, and fi nd satisfaction in Jesus. Give the Lord praise that His Ask God to lead a mission agency to reach out to the Spirit has continued to move Kalmyks. Pray that Kalmyks who put their faith in throughout the earth since Christ will one day take the message of salvation back to Pentecost. Pray for a fresh their homeland.—WK outpouring of the Spirit on the Kalmyk people, be they in Moscow or elsewhere.

16 Day 8 Buddhist Tuvin People in Moscow Acts 8:31-35

ong! Th e gong rang out, telling everyone at the “How can I [understand],” gate that the temple was now open. People fl ocked B he said, “unless someone to the new Buddhist temple in Moscow’s Victory Park. explains it to me?” Then A few of these people spoke Russian, but most of them spoke a very diff erent language called Tuvin. Th ey Philip began with that very looked Asian, not European. Inside many people bowed passage of Scripture and to the statue of Buddha. Going back into the courtyard, told him the good news numerous metal plaques lined the brick walls, listing about Jesus. the names of Tuvin soldiers who died fi ghting for the Philip asked the Ethiopian if Soviet Union during World War II. he understood what he was Most of the Tuvins live in Siberia in a location just north reading, and the man admitted of the Mongolian border. Th ey worship Buddha and that he did not. Many valuable nature spirits. Shamans are very common among this literature and radio ministries people group. During World War II many Tuvin soldiers fought for the Soviet Union against the Germans. are being conducted today After the war some of these soldiers settled with their among some of the world’s families in western Russian cities like Moscow. Th e New unreached peoples. But these Testament has been translated into Tuvin, along with peoples often have the same some small portions of the Old Testament. problem as the Ethiopian eunuch: they need further face- Pray that a mission agency will translate the Old to-face explanation of what Testament into Tuvin. Ask God to break the hold that they read and hear. Likewise, it Buddhism and spirit worship have on this people group. Pray for the formation of Bible believing fellowships for will take someone to personally the Tuvins who live in Moscow and other parts of Russia. reach the unreached Tuvin Ask the Lord to raise up Tuvin believers in Jesus Christ people in Moscow. to take the message of salvation to the Tuvin homeland in Siberia.—WK Pray for more face-to-face laborers who will begin from the Scriptures and preach Jesus to unreached peoples.

17 Day 9 Acts 13:47 Russian Jews in Moscow

ormer Israeli President Shimon Peres offi cially For this is what the Lord opened a new Jewish Museum and Center of has commanded us: “I F Tolerance in Moscow. He said, “Th is museum is an have made you a light for eloquent declaration of the principles of tolerance the Gentiles, that you may toward people and their freedom. Here we can bring salvation to the ends see part of man’s past and move into the future of the earth.” with hope.” He continued, “Th e museum aims to Instead of quoting his own demonstrate Jewish cultural traditions and customs and also shows the history of Russia through the commission to the Gentiles prism of the Jewish people.” given to him on the road to Damascus, Paul chose to Faced with severe persecution in the past, many Jewish people left Russia for Israel and the USA. quote God’s commission to all However, there are still about 100,000 Russian Jews Jews as found in Isaiah 49:6. living in Moscow. Most of them do not adhere to In rejecting that commission, their spiritual inheritance. the Jewish leaders not only A strong Messianic Jewish believer living in Moscow rejected the Gentiles and explains the challenge they face, “To understand Paul; they rejected God ministry in Moscow, one must understand that the Himself. As a result, Paul offi cial religion of Russia is Orthodox Christianity. turned to the Gentiles, who As with many state religions, most adherents are immediately “began rejoicing nominal, meaning their religion is in name only and and glorifying the work of the refl ects culture rather than faith in Y’shua (Jesus). Th e culture in Russia still includes a tremendous Lord.” The result? “The Word amount of anti-Semitism, so many who describe of the Lord spread through themselves as Orthodox Christians hate our people. the whole region.” Yes, the Th is adds to the challenge of telling them about Jesus. nations are responsive to the To hear the good news from Jewish lips is still a gospel, if we will only bring it radical concept.” to them! Pray that the Russian Jewish people in Moscow will be Pray that the Lord will lead His open to receiving the Lord’s desire to have them as His workers to the members of the own. May there be healing and hope among these people unreached people groups who that can only come from knowing Y’shua.—PD are most responsive.

18 Day 10 Ukrainian Jews in Moscow Acts 28:28

his is amazing!” Olga, a Jewish Ukrainian “ Therefore I want you to woman, was in the Moscow State History T know that God’s salvation Museum reading a letter written in 1932 by Anna, has been sent to the the sister of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union. Th e letter had just been put on display. One Gentiles, and they will listen. part stated that Anna’s maternal grandfather was a Paul was closing the door to his Ukrainian Jew who converted to Christianity to gain witness to the Jews because better access to higher education. Olga continued they had so often rejected speaking to her friend. “Lenin came from a poor Jewish family and, according to his baptismal certifi cate, he God’s appeal through him. He was the son of Moses Blank, a native of the western wanted them to realize that Ukrainian city of Zhitomir. Although we still struggle their hardness of heart was with anti-Semitism, this is very signifi cant in our the main reason for his focus history. It explains so much about why there are still a on the Gentiles. But in another number of Ukrainians with Jewish backgrounds that do sense, this is a happy ending. not acknowledge their own culture.” It says that the Gentiles will Persecution during the rule of Lenin and Stalin led listen, and, indeed they did! to thousands of Jewish people dying or fl eeing the Yet we know that God is not Ukraine. Th ousands of Jewish schools and synagogues done with the Jewish people. were closed. Though Paul focused on the Many Jewish people in the Ukraine do not practice Gentiles after that point, their faith. Th ey continue to encourage their children in there are many others who education and challenges in selected areas of work such as are compelled to take the science, medicine, and business. Th e Russian Orthodox Church is not open to reaching the Jewish people. gospel back to those who fi rst proclaimed it—the Jews! Pray that evangelical and Messianic Jewish Christians can Pray for good fruit to come from restore the Jewish people to the joy of their place with God eff orts to reach the Jews for and the hope found in Jesus.—PD Christ in Russia and beyond.

19 Day 11 Acts 15:16-18 Muslim Arabs in Moscow

ow does a …that the remnant of men world power may seek the Lord. H infl uence key leaders Some Judean Christians went from around the to Antioch and taught the world? Often they use education. Th at is Gentile believers that they what the Soviet Union had to be circumcised in order An Arab youth did starting about 50 to be acceptable to God. This years ago. Th ey invited a number of young Arab men upset Paul and Barnabas, who from the Middle East to Moscow to study. Many decided to go to Jerusalem of them were from countries like Libya and Syria, to talk with the church both of which had Socialist leanings. Th e majority of leaders. James concluded the them eventually returned to their countries of origin, discussion at this meeting but some remained in Moscow. Syrian Arabs are now caught in a civil war, and some are leaving the by quoting the prophets, country. Moscow is one of the destinations for those affi rming God’s intention to who have connections in that city. Many of these include the Gentiles in His Syrian Arabs have Muslim backgrounds, but some redemption. The council are Christians. concluded that circumcision Th e Muslim Arabs in Moscow are a diverse group was unnecessary. That decision economically as well as religiously. A number of was a watershed event in the them are involved with the trade and economic history of the expansion of the aff airs between Russia and the Arab countries. In Christian faith. It was clear at addition, a high number of Arab Muslims are illegal this point that the gospel could immigrants living in Moscow where they work as expand within each culture, cheap laborers in construction, driving buses, and cleaning courtyards. unencumbered by Jewish traditions. Pray that God will build strength in Russian and Arab Pray for the Holy Spirit to give believers and use them to reach Arab Muslims for His wisdom to missionaries and Kingdom. Pray for Arab Christians to be empowered national church leaders who by the Holy Spirit to reach out for Christ to their fellows must carefully distinguish Arabs.—PD between biblical absolutes and cultural norms.

20 Day 12 Muslim Wahabbis in Moscow Acts 8:5

ahhabis defi le religion and insult feelings of “ Philip went down to a city Muslims with their criminal acts!” Awkfaf, W in Samaria and proclaimed an Islamic leader from Kuwait, spoke with a strong the Christ there. voice at the Islamic Doctrine Against Radicalism conference in Moscow. He and other prominent Two factors are quite Islamic scholars and religious leaders from the Middle signifi cant in this single East, Indonesia, Africa, Malaysia, and Russia wanted statement. The fi rst is that to let the international communities know they did not support the Wahhabis who were growing more Philip, a layman, began powerful in areas of Russia, especially Chechnya. sharing the gospel outside of Jerusalem. The second Wahhabism is a branch of that became a revivalist movement started by Muhammad Wahhab is that Philip, a Jew, was from Saudi Arabia in the early 1700s. Th ey believe sharing the good news with their role is to promote “true” Islam and to free other the Samaritans—people Muslims involved in heresies, idolatries, liberalism, or who were cultural enemies any form of worship that is not sanctioned by the laws of the Jews. He was having of Islam. tremendous success. Would Some Wahhabis from Moscow and various areas of it be possible to fi nd success Russia have been actively fi ghting in Afghanistan, today when reaching out to Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, Palestine and most recently Syria. those who currently oppose Th ey try to destroy anything or anyone (including other the gospel like the Wahhabis? Muslims) that stand in the way of their militant beliefs. Th ey are very opposed to Christians and any form of Pray for discernment and outreach from them. A top Russian policy maker in tact for those who reach out Moscow said the government is seriously considering to their cultural enemies. criminalizing this form of Islam. Th is is causing more Pray for bold eff orts to reach protests by Wahhabis in Moscow. the spiritually deceived Wahhabis who are very Pray for Moscow to be protected from Wahhabi activities. sincere, but sincerely wrong. Pray that Christ’s followers in all places where Wahhabis are active will be trained to communicate with these Muslims. Pray that the Holy Spirit will grip these mili- tants and show them the true and loving God and His ways.—PD

21 Day 13 Acts 8:1 Muslim Bangladeshis in Moscow

…all except the apostles he Bangladeshi student walked were scattered throughout T unsteadily up the dark, Judea and Samaria. emptying street. He Acts 8:1 is just the opposite stopped every few of Acts 1:8! Instead of steps, leaned against a lamppost, looked going out voluntarily as A Bangladeshi over his shoulders, felt the Lord had commanded, his head, winced a little, and continued to shuffl e the church had to undergo onward. Th e throbbing pain in his head rhymed with persecution in Jerusalem the frenzied beating of his heart. He did not want to that forced believers out be out in the dark. to Judea and Samaria. We Once he reached the corner of the street, he hailed are most familiar with the a taxi. He slid into the cab and said, “to the police voluntary mechanism: that station.” Th e taxi driver’s eyes fl itting from the road is, missionaries going out to the rearview mirror bellowed, “What happened voluntarily. But much of the to you?” Unsure if he could trust this Russian taxi expansion of the Church has driver, the student mumbled, “A bit of an accident.” “To the police station,” yelled the driver, abruptly been due to the involuntary taking off from the curb. Paying his fare with a mechanism of Christians being crumpled currency, the student stumbled onto the captured or expelled against pavement in front of the police station. their will and coming into Taking down the student’s account of the assault, the contact with non-believers. kindly Moscow policeman shook his head and said, Acts 8 was such a case. But “Th is is not the fi rst time that a foreigner has been there are other times when attacked in Moscow. Th ese troublemakers have nothing people come to a place where better to do than to attack harmless foreigners.” they can hear the gospel. Most Bangladeshis in Moscow are trades people and The South Asian Diaspora in students, and are perceived as robbing opportunities Moscow is a great example from the locals. Hence they are targets of hate crimes. of this. Pray that the believing community in Moscow would Pray for Bangladeshis and welcome these Muslim expatriates so they may see the love other South Asians to fi nd a of Jesus Christ in action.—EJD place in their hearts for the Lord when they hear of Him in other lands. 22 Day 14 Muslim Baloch People in Moscow Acts 11:19-20

fter a grueling year of Now those who had been not only studying to A scattered…traveled as be a medical doctor, but also far as Phoenicia, Cyprus learning the language and culture of Russia, the young and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Arabian Bay of Baloch man had fi nally Sea Bengal settled down. He was well on Some of them…went to his way to earning a degree in Antioch and began to speak a medical college in Moscow, to Greeks also. IRAN AFGHANISTAN and he had made friends Kashmir In a similar fashion isn’t Islamabad with fellow-students. But no matter how well he had preoccupation with “our own Balochistan PAKISTAN acclimatized himself to the kind of people” the norm Karachi Hyderabad Russian way of life, he could today? The vast majority Arabian Sea INDIA not erase from his mind who of full-time workers are he is and where he is from. ministering to those of their On many a cold evening he would conjure up in his own culture who may already mind images from his hometown. He would imagine be at least nominal believers. he was back in his Pakistani village surrounded by the Certainly these people need people he loves: his grandfather was rocking back and to hear the gospel clearly, forth quietly mouthing the words of the Qur’an; his as did the Jews of the fi rst mother was fl ipping the hot fl atbread with her bare century. But we must not hands; his father was herding the fl ock; and his little brothers were kicking a grubby ball. But the young forget those peoples like the man fears that this idyllic scene could be shattered Baloch who have never heard at any time by attacks perpetrated against the family the truth. They need full-time by Pakistani forces that see them as separatists and workers among them. Indian agents. He wishes with every fi ber in his being to return to his Baloch people and work to make their Pray for the Church to lives better. But the best he can do is to make money hear the Lord’s voice when for his family in a foreign city. He calls us to go to those like the Baloch people in Pray that these devout Sunni Muslims may fi nd the love Pakistan and Russia, and and peace that Christ alone can off er. Pray for God’s pro- share Christ with them. tection of the Baloch people.—EJD

23 Day 15 Acts 5:28 Hindus in Moscow

here was …you have fi lled nothing Jerusalem with your T unusual about the teaching. day. It was a typical Chapters fi ve and six of Acts October morning, yield several indications that dry and pleasantly cool. Hindu families the apostles were obedient A Hindu boy in Moscow began to to the Lord’s command to be arrive at the temporary temple they had erected on His witnesses in Jerusalem. the land that was allocated for the construction of a The number of disciples was new temple. Fathers, mothers, and children fi led into quickly getting very large (6:1, the structure for morning prayers. 6:7)! But what about the rest Suddenly the priests’ chanting was rudely disrupted of the Lord’s command? Did by a commotion at the entrance. Th e mothers He not say that they should go instinctively drew their children close to them, as the beyond Jerusalem? Yes! How men got up from the fl oor and headed towards the easy it is to become absorbed entrance. Th ey had heard that people were protesting in issues close to home, and the construction of the new temple. Th e Archbishop of the Russian Orthodox Church had delivered a forget the needs of other scathing criticism against the construction of the peoples in other places. Are temple. However they were not expecting men there any ways in which you carrying iron rods to attack them. Th e mayor had or your church have neglected cancelled the allocation of the land, paving the way the frontiers of missions? for miscreants to evict the Hindus from the property. Th e next hour or so saw the nightmarish unleashing Pray for His teachings to be of violence against the Hindus. Th ey were beaten; made known to every people even the women and children were not spared. in Moscow and your city. According to various reports there are nearly 40,000 , and most of them are Hindus. Being a minority, they face the threat of being targeted for violent crimes and abuse.

Pray that the Christ followers in Moscow will be wor- thy witnesses of the gospel to the Hindus so that they will get to hear about Christ and come to experience His love.—EJD

24 Day 16 Punjabis in Moscow Acts 4:10-11

ubbing his palms in It is by the Name of Jesus an eff ort to warm R Christ of Nazareth, whom them, a young Sikh man, you crucifi ed but God raised INDIA Dalbeer, stood tall among from the dead…that [the Arabian Bay of the other commuters at the Bengal Sea Moscow bus station. He man who was lame] stands peered over the other heads before you completely in the direction from which healed…. Salvation is they all expected the bus to found in no one else. Himachal appear. Th rough the corner Pradesh In obedience Peter and John Amritsar of his eyes he caught a Ludhiana glimpse of a group of people proclaimed the Lord’s salvation Punjab staring at him. Being good- in Jerusalem. They were so bold natured, Dalbeer smiled that they were called before Haryana at the gawking strangers. the religious council to defend His warmth was met with their actions. What was their a steely coolness that was colder than the Moscow defense? It was simply the winter. Soon the much-anticipated bus pulled into the Name of the Risen Lord Jesus station and everyone rushed in. Christ. Because Jesus was raised Soon he felt a pair of eyes scorching through the back from the dead, Peter insisted, of head. Dalbeer tried to take his mind off the staring “There is salvation in no one people by looking out the window. He muttered, “well, else! There is no other Name I cannot blame them for being curious. I am wearing a turban and am sporting a long, scraggly beard.” by which we must be saved.” Without salvation in the Name Arriving at home, he settled on the couch beside his of the risen Jesus, the unreached father. Dalbeer asked, “We’ve been here a long time. Why do people still look at us strangely?” His father peoples of the world have no looked up from his paper, smiled, and continued hope for eternity. reading without a comment. Pray for an understanding of Most of the Punjabis in Moscow are business people. Th ey what God revealed to Peter. have assimilated well into Russian society. Nevertheless, Pray that the Holy Spirit will they are subject to prejudice and discrimination. remind us of the reality of heaven and hell and of the Pray that Punjabi Sikhs who live in Moscow will fi nd saving power of the gospel. warmth and acceptance in the arms of Jesus and His Pray that the believers will be people.—EJD burdened to reach the Punjabi Sikhs in Moscow for Christ. 25 Day 17 Acts 4:12 Muslim Lezgin People in Moscow

is name is Rustam Kerimov …there is no other name and he lives a humble life under heaven given to men H in Moscow. He used to tend his by which we must be saved. sheep in the beautiful Caucasus Mountains between the Black The Jewish leaders arrested Lezgin people Peter and John after Peter’s Sea and the Caspian Sea. His wife wove intricate traditional carpets in their hut sermon in front of the temple. overlooking a deep valley. He came to Moscow because The charges against them of the economic discrimination against his people. were that they had taught Rustam Kerimov is not related to the Lezgin activist the people about Jesus’ Arif Kerimov who played a prominent role in the fi rst resurrection and had healed conference of the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy the cripple in His Name. of held on June 18, 2012 in Moscow. Peter’s defense the next day Th e majority of Lezgins (up to 700,000) live in was characteristically simple, Azerbaijan and Russia’s region, but the yet powerful. He once again Lezgins group convened their conference in Moscow testifi ed of Jesus’ life, death, to draw Russian attention to the plight of the Lezgins. and resurrection, and charged Th ey suff er economic, cultural, and educational discrimination, especially in Azerbaijan, a country the Jewish leaders with that borders Russia. In fact, many Lezgins deny their rejecting Him, God’s Messiah. Lezgin ethnicity to escape alleged persecution. For He affi rmed that the stone the this reason population fi gures vary widely, depending builders rejected had become on the source. A recent border agreement especially the Chief Cornerstone. Jesus, rankled the Lezgins because Russia handed over two and Jesus alone, is the only Lezgin villages to Azerbaijan. Way to salvation. Th e majority of Lezgins are Sunni Muslims, although many also cling to ancient beliefs and traditions Pray that the Lezgin people that predate their conversion to Islam. According to will understand from the the Joshua Project, “many of the younger Lezgins heart that Jesus is the Chief no longer follow their parents’ religious traditions, Cornerstone, the only Name making them more open to the gospel.” under heaven by which we must be saved. Pray for the end of discrimination against the Lezgins. Pray for young missionaries in Moscow to reach the younger generation with the good news of salvation through Christ. Pray that the Lezgins would fi nd peace, joy, and acceptance in the person of Jesus.—JWS

26 Day 18 Muslim Crimean Tatars of Moscow Psalms 9:8

etro listened as his grandfather rocked quietly in He will judge the world in his chair. Th e singsong voice spoke of years long P righteousness; He will govern past when their people lived in the Crimea. But in the peoples with justice. WWII they were uprooted and scattered by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin across central Asia to make room This is a great example of the for Germans to live by the sea. Grandfather told how “not yet” verses of the Bible. little by little they began coming to Moscow to plead God is a perfect judge, and for the right to speak their language and write in their own Latin alphabet rather than the Russian alphabet, He will govern with perfect which does not produce the sounds of their language. righteousness. But for the “We are a Turkic Muslim people, but now we are also time being, we still have to Muscovites. We tried once to go back to our homes in contend with injustice coming the Crimea, but we were sent back.” from man’s sinfulness and Th e 700,000 Tatar people in Moscow are offi cially Satan’s deceit. Consequently, Muslim, although many of their youth practice only a monsters like Josef Stalin few outward signs of Islam such as refusing pork, and murdered millions of Russians, occasionally uttering the daily prayers. Th e mosques Ukrainians, and Tatars, yet he are packed with mostly older men who like to socialize lived to a ripe old age. with old friends. Th e Crimean Tatars in Moscow hold tenaciously to what strands of identity they can salvage. Pray that the Lord will speed the day when His As they are in a time of transition, pray that they will righteousness and justice learn of the Savior, Jesus Christ, who came from His home will fi ll the earth as the in Heaven to save them. Pray that they will fi nd their waters cover the sea. Pray identity in Him, and understand that He is the true and that many will understand living God. Pray that they will be with Christ Jesus in this Easter season that Jesus eternity.—PE will come back to Earth to bring about a day when justice and mercy will guide the hearts of all mankind.

27 Day 19 Psalms 25:11 Muslim Chechens in Moscow

nora rocked three- For the sake of Your Name, year-old Sifl a as she O Lord, forgive my iniquity, A told the story of her escape though it is great. from Chechnya, hiking for All of us sin each day, and we miles across frozen ground need forgiveness. Our sins are to escape fi ghting between her Muslim countrymen and an off ense to the One who Russian attack helicopters. created us, the only One with Now she was in Moscow, the power to forgive. This is but her typically dark skin one of the ways His Name is A Chechen boy and hair made her a target glorifi ed: by forgiving sinful for rude and threatening man. There are entire tribes, treatment by the fair-complexioned locals. Sifl a slept tongues and nations that don’t untouched by the quiet words, but for Anora it was yet know that God will forgive an outlet for her feelings of frustration. Where can she go? Returning to Chechnya could mean death their sins if they humble by Russian infantrymen. Staying in Moscow means themselves and call on His continual threats, taunts, and even beatings. Name in repentance. Likewise, Meanwhile, across the street Yuri opened the door to His Name is glorifi ed when his car as the police handcuff ed him and placed him believers forgive those who in their vehicle. “What am I being arrested for?” he persecute them. demanded. “Two explosions killed many citizens last night and we suspect you ‘blacks’ for the bombings. Pray for the Lord to raise up Didn’t you just have a meeting of recent immigrants a forgiving church among from Chechnya?” the Chechens that will glorify His Name. Violence and racism plague the Chechens in Moscow. Some, like Anora, only desire to live quietly in Moscow until they can someday return to their land. Others like Yuri are fi ghting back, resulting in high death-counts of innocent Muscovites.

Pray that the Prince of Peace may be revealed to the Chechens. Pray that while they are not in the isolated Muslim confi nes of Chechnya, Christ’s followers will reach out to them with kindness, friendship, and the gospel. Pray that this diffi cult exile will lead to eternal life for many Chechens.—PE

28 Day 20 Muslim in Moscow Luke 24:26

ajiev placed the fl ag of the Northern Caucasian Did not the Christ have to Republic of Ingushetia prominently in the back G suff er these things and window of his car. Mairbek hopped in the passenger then enter His glory? side and the young men peeled away to meet other demonstrators at the circular highway around the One of the things we so often center of Moscow. When they arrived, other Ingush forget is that before there is motorists were bashing cars, waving fl ags, and fi ring glory, there is often suff ering. air pistols to draw attention to the war zone that their country has become. Civil disorder, bombings, We know that, like Christ, disappearances, and executions on the streets have many of His servants are become the “new normal” for the Ingush people. suff ering in places like Nigeria Many protests and pickets block parks and streets as and North Korea for their faith. the Ingush in Moscow plead for the world’s attention. In many cases throughout Ingushetia is part of Russia, but it maintains its own Church history, the suff ering Sunni Muslim identity. Th ere are less than half a million of the saints has led to Ingush people in their own country, so their population repentance and the extension in Moscow is very tiny. But their voices and actions cause of His Kingdom. You have constant disruptions in the Russian capital. heard it said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of Pray that even as the Ingush rage in Moscow, believ- the Church. So diffi cult, but so ers will reach out to them with the love of Jesus, off ering the gospel of peace through Christ. Pray that many Ingush true in our fallen world! will receive Him and take the good news back to their war Pray for God to raise up torn homeland. Pray for workers to minister with the new Ingush men and women translation of the Gospel of Luke in the Ingush language, who are willing to suff er for and that the words will be multiplied in power and eff ec- the Name of Christ so that tiveness in the hearts of the Ingush people.—PE others may fi nd Him.

29 Day 21 Psalms 49:7-8 Muslim Karachai People in Moscow

991 saw a radical change take place in Eastern No man can redeem the life Europe and Central Asia. Th e USSR dissolved. of another or give to God 1 Many of its former republics declared independence a ransom for him—the and severed ties with the newly defunct USSR. ransom for a life is costly, no However, some smaller regions were slower to react payment is ever enough… and remained in the new Russia. Th is was especially Did you see the movie, “The true of the Karachaevo-Cherkessia region in Russia’s Northern Caucasus. Th e Karachai dzhamat staunchly Passion of the Christ”? If opposed the Russian government in the late 1990s you did, you may remember and even cooperated with Chechen militants. the scene in the Garden of Th e Karachai are fi ercely independent. Th ey suff ered Gethsemane where Satan greatly under Soviet domination. In 1943 they were is trying to tempt Jesus into forcibly deported to Kazakhstan from their location in bypassing the cross. He tells southern Russia along the Georgia border and some Jesus that it is impossible were relocated to Siberia for the duration of World for man to pay for the life of War II. Over 700,000 Chechens and Karachais were another. So true, but so false sent into exile in freight trains. Twenty-three percent in this case! Jesus is the only of the deported died. A campaign for the recognition Son of the Living God, so He of genocide is a central tenet and article of faith for today’s Karachai activists. alone can pay for the sins of the world. Muslims try to Some Karachai still remain in Central Asia, but most achieve salvation by obeying have returned to their native region. Th e Karachai dzhamat was originally formed as a political force the words of Mohammed, oriented toward an Islamic ideology. Interestingly, while Buddhists and Hindus it now functions outside the borders of the main seek to do good towards a ethnic concentration of the Karachai people and is better reincarnation. But only centralized in Moscow! Christ can pay for their sins. No sin is forgiven, except by Pray for truth and justice to prevail in this situation. the blood of Christ. Pray for the salvation of key Karachai leaders in Moscow who could boldly proclaim the gospel and take it back to Pray for the Karachai people their people.—JS to seek out and fi nd their only Redeemer!

30 Day 22 Institute for Bible Translation (IBT Russia/CIS) Acts 22:22

ranslating the Bible into the heart languages of The crowd listened to Paul every people group in the world is a daunting T until he said this one word. task. Fortunately, however, there are a number of agencies that share in this ministry. Th e Institute for When Paul mentioned Jesus Bible Translation (IBT Russia/CIS) was founded in and Stephen, the mob didn’t Stockholm, Sweden in 1973. Its main task is to publish get angry. But when he Bibles for non-Slavic people in Slavic countries, which declared that God had called include many Central Asian languages. In 2002 the operational center of IBT Russia/CIS was transferred him to go to the Gentiles, from Stockholm to Moscow. they went ballistic. Jesus had provoked the same reaction IBT Russia/CIS not only translates and publishes Bibles or portions of them in various languages, but it in the synagogue at Nazareth also distributes them. Th e people of their target area by affi rming God’s care for speak 130 diff erent languages and represent a diversity foreigners. How easy it is of cultures and religions, including Islam, Buddhism, to allow natural pride and and shamanism/animism. So far IBT Russia/CIS prejudice to blind us to the has translated and published the Bible or portions of inclusive grace of the Heavenly it into 70 languages. IBT Russia/CIS also produces Father! Do we harbor resistance audio recordings of the Bible text in seven languages and a Children’s Bible in Russian and in more to the fulfi llment of the Great than 30 other languages. Some ethnic groups have Commission in countries at initially expressed concern in reconciling the spiritual odds with our own? heritage of their people with Christian spirituality. But the IBT Russia/CIS team members explain Pray that the Lord will allow that “Christianity brings one truth for all peoples no obstacle in our hearts and is not called to destroy the cultural heritage of a to completing the Great particular nation.” Commission.

Pray for accurate and faithful translations of the Bible message to modern readers. Pray for the Holy Spirit to re- late the Bible’s message to each reader.—JS http://ibt.org.ru/english/about_en.htm

31 Day 23 Psalms 1:3 Work Among Muslims in Moscow

elievers in modern day Russia, including Moscow, He is like a tree planted by are getting more involved in obeying the Great streams of water, which B Commission. Th ey are joining together to reach yields its fruit in season. the foreigners in their midst with the gospel. Th e God’s child, meditating following story is fi ctional, but it represents what can on God’s Word, yields fruit happen when people use Business As Mission (BAM) eff orts to further God’s work by hiring Muslims. according to His timing. “Whatever he does prospers.” “May I help you?” Ivan said as he stared at the Jesus told His disciples in the inebriated youth who came to the door of his rug cleaning business. “Yes,” replied the youth. Pointing intimacy of the upper room, at Ivan’s Kirghiz employee he said, “You can fi re “You did not choose Me, but that parasite and hire a real Russian.” Ivan didn’t I chose you to go and bear even blink as he replied, “Why would I want to fi re fruit —fruit that will last. one of my best workers? He works hard, and vodka Then the Father will give you doesn’t compromise his work. How many people do whatever you ask in My Name” you know that work that well?” Th e youth murmured (John 15:16). “Fruit” refers complaints and walked away, much to the relief of both to inner character and the Muslim rug cleaner. holiness—the fruit of the In addition to hiring Muslims in Moscow who need Spirit—and to the life that work, believers are also off ering Russian language reproduces itself in others. classes to the Muslims. By living the way Jesus taught us to live, Muslims can see the ways of Christ really Jesus calls us to bear fruit in a do work. Other Russian believers are teaching church hurting world. members about the need to reach Muslims for the Savior. Th ere are Russian mission mobilizers who Thank the Lord for the good are off ering classes on how to eff ectively reach out to fruit that is coming from specifi c Central Asian and Caucasian Muslim peoples. BAM work in Moscow. Pray that this fruit will last. Pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to work mightily in the hearts and lives of Russian believers who are reach- ing out to their Muslim neighbors. Pray for Business As Mission (BAM) eff orts in Moscow to thrive. Pray for Christ followers to have regular contact with Muslims through language classes.—KC

32 Day 24 in Moscow Psalms 14:3

nd so we arrive,” the “ All have turned aside, they professor said to his A have together become university students, after the corrupt; there is no one who last of them ascended the escalator from the metro. does good, not even one. “We are on Khachaturyan What a reminder of the true Street in Otradnoye [a nature of man! We are all Moscow suburb],” he sinners, and we all need a continued. “Notice what’s here—a McDonalds! And savior, no matter how “good” we may appear. God has An Azeri gentleman there’s the Golden Babylon Shopping Center. Further provided one way out of this down the street is something unusual for this Russian helpless dilemma. The only capital.” He led them down the street. Upon entering Savior, Jesus Christ, paid for a red brick building the professor continued, “Th ere every sin. How all the Azeris are two mosques here; the Yadryam Mosque, and an need to hear of His salvation! Azeri mosque fi nanced by an Azerbaijani president.” “How many Azerbaijanis are in Moscow?” one Pray that believers in student asked. “No one knows exactly,” the professor Moscow will use this Easter answered. “Rough estimates suggest one and a half season to tell the unreached million; it may be as many as two million. Many people in their city of the Muslims come here from the North Caucasus region, Savior born to take away the some from the South Caucasus and Central Asia. sins of the world. Pray that Th ere are over 7,000 mosques throughout Russia, and the unreached peoples will just fi ve in Moscow.” accept that they have sinned, It was Th ursday when the students visited the mosque. and that only Jesus can Th e building was empty except for a cleaning lady. reconcile them to the Father. She told them that on Fridays, all kinds of people fi ll the mosque; Tatars, Russians, Dagestanis, Chechens, Tajiks, and Azerbaijanis. Th en she added, “Th ey are taught about how Islam off ers the way to peace.” “Ugh,” a student groaned. He prayed in his heart as the lady continued to expound on the merits of Islam.

Let us ask the Lord to send Christ followers to the Azerbaijani Muslims of Moscow with His message of eter- nal love and peace.—CN

33 Day 25 Psalms 144:3 Tajiks in Moscow

[Continued from yesterday] Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? … he cleaning lady in the mosque fi nished her Man is like a breath; his days T talk with the visiting university students. Th e are like a passing shadow. professor asked, “Your fl owered headscarf tells me you are Tajik. Is that correct?” “Yes!” she beamed, Man is nothing! Nothing brushing back a strand of grey hair. Th e professor but a breath that lasts for a then inquired, “Would you tell us something about moment or a passing shadow. your people?” “Gladly! We are the oldest people group of Central Asia and the largest in Russia, I Furthermore, other parts of might add. Th ere are about 120,000 of us in Russia, Scripture, especially the fi rst especially in this fair city of Moscow. We live chapter of Romans, tell of primarily in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, as well as man’s evil desires and sinful Uzbekistan. In olden days we worked as farmers and nature. But is God constantly herdsmen. Europeans and Arabs traded with the wooing unreached peoples Indians and Chinese, and our historic homeland was like the Tajiks who are in in the center of these trade routes. However, over the rebellion against Him? Yes, past 50 years we have become more urbanized.” Th e woman then frowned and added, “But we also have a indeed! Because of His love, history of oppression and servitude to other peoples.” His righteousness, and His After a brief pause, the professor then asked, “What holy character, God pursues of your religion?” “Oh, we have many ancient beliefs, unbelievers so that they may but all of us are Muslim. Th e Arab invaders brought have an abundant life just as Islam to us.” we His children do. In order to be righteous ambassadors Let us ask the Lord of the harvest to show Tajiks in of Christ, shouldn’t we be Moscow that Jesus is the one true way to peace, blessing, and salvation. Pray that the eyes of their hearts will be doing all we can to draw the open to the glories of the true Savior, and that many will unreached to Christ? embrace Him. Pray for the spiritual transformation of the Tajiks in Moscow and beyond.—CN Pray that the unreached Tajik people will soon learn about Jesus who loves them and died on the cross for their sins.

34 Day 26 Muslim in Moscow Psalms 33:13-15

moan slipped From heaven the Lord looks through bandages A down and sees all mankind. covering the Kyrgyz He watches all who live on man’s face. He meant to hum, imagining he was earth—He who forms the back in Kyrgyzstan in hearts of all. the chamber orchestra Does this sound like a God or even reciting a who does not care? Does He, A Kyrgyz Girl traditional manas poem to his bride, who from afar now mourned his assault who sends us out to give His from Russian skinheads. He had lost track of the days good news to every people since he’d come to Moscow for a job. group on earth, not love each one? Yes, this is the same God Nearly 32,000 Kyrgyz have fl ed their home country to Moscow to fi nd work in this global economic crisis. who sent His Son to die on Th ough often an educated people, many settle for the cross 2,000 years ago, rise hard labor jobs with long hours for only a hundred from the dead, and ascend to USD a week. Th ey send most of the money home to the Father. What an awesome Kyrgyzstan. Th ey work without permits and without Savior! Certainly our eff orts to medical care. Many share small apartments with other fulfi ll the Great Commission migrant laborers. In despair and hopelessness it is cannot “pay” Him back, but common for them to turn to drugs and alcohol. they are what we can do to Most Kyrgyz are folk Muslims; only about half a obey Him. percent have put their faith in Christ. But Moscow is home to a thriving evangelical population. Many new Pray that the Holy Spirit will church plants are happening each month. make the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection clear Pray that these Russian churches will utilize resources like to the Muslim Kyrgyz people. the JESUS Film and Bible translations, both available in Kyrgyz, to reach their ethnic neighbors. Pray that their evangelical Russian neighbors will love the Kyrgyz and share Jesus with them. Pray that peace and protection will cover the Kyrgyz in Moscow despite economic, ethnic, and political tensions.—LR

35 Day 27 Psalms 33:8 Muslim Bashkir People in Moscow

hat do the following have in common? Let all the earth fear the Pole climbing, horseracing, wrestling, and Lord; let all the people of W sack racing. All of them are part of the Sabantuy the world revere Him. Festival. Every year this celebration of summer is The Lord wept at Lazarus’ practiced by both Tatars and Bashkir people in tomb (John 11:35). He wept Moscow’s Kolomenskoye Park, according to a July 4, 2012 article found on en.haberler.com (http:// over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). en.haberler.com/tartars-bashkirs-celebrate-festival- He suff ered distress of spirit in-moscow-1330/). Th is celebration dates back to over men’s hardness of heart rural Bashkir communities during the Middle Ages. (Mark 3:5). Do you think He Today it has spread to cities such as Moscow. is grieved today because “all Th ere are over one and a half million Bashkir people, the earth” does not fear Him, but they are closely related to the more numerous that “all the people of the Tatar groups (see day 18). Th e have their world” do not yet revere Him? own dialect, but as time goes on, most of them are He bore sin’s penalty—death speaking either Russian or a similar Tatar language. on a cross—for each one! Th is process has been going on since the 18th and Think of it—the only Son of early 19th centuries when the Bashkir homeland was overrun by Russian and Tatar peoples. Many of God being brutally beaten the Bashkirs had to give up their traditional pastoral and killed a merciless death lands to the newcomers, and some of them moved so that God the Father can to cities. Today, the Bashkirs who live in Moscow show mercy! But millions do are likely to be small businessmen and shop owners. not know this. How that must Th ey have a degree of economic clout in this world- grieve Him! Does it grieve us class city. as well? Th ey would like to maintain their Islamic religion. During the Sabantuy Festival, Muslim muftis Pray that the Holy Spirit will organize “knowledge contests” to test who make you more sensitive understands the Qur’an. to His yearning for the unreached. Pray that He will Pray for a holy dissatisfaction with traditional religion help us to respond to His that will lead many Bashkir people to seek and fi nd their command to go and tell the Savior.—KC good news of His salvation.

36 Day 28 Muslim Pushtun People in Moscow Psalms 32: 5b

ost Afghan Pushtuns UZBEKISTAN I said, “I will confess my living in Moscow TURKMENISTAN M transgressions to the have been deprived of offi cial status, harassed by police, Lord”—and You forgave AFGHANISTAN and preyed upon by thugs. the guilt of my sin. IRAN Abdul Habibullah, an Afghan As we prepare our hearts PAKISTAN resident of Moscow, says, for Resurrection Sunday, let “Of course we will leave as us think about why it was TAJIKISTAN soon as we fi nd out that life is going to be normal there (in necessary for Him to be slain. AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan). We don’t have We know that He has victory Kabul any home here.” His earlier over death and the sole power life in Afghanistan was as Kandahar to forgive sins because of IRAN PAKISTAN an army colonel, but now he His death and resurrection. scrapes by selling key rings, Because of His sovereignty pens, and knickknacks. and mercy, He has both the Th ere are about 35,000 Pushtun Afghans living in power and the will to forgive Moscow. Many of these Afghans are professionals, sinful mankind. But what can civil servants, and technical experts. Since so people do that don’t know many people with these essential skills have left Afghanistan, the country’s infrastructure is in of His saving power? Will shambles. In Moscow, however, Afghans with these it be enough on the Day of same skills are often not given the chance to use them. Judgment for them to call on Instead they must settle for jobs that require low the mercy of Buddha or the skills. Only about 500 of these Afghans have offi cial power of Shiva? Is it right for recognition as refugees or asylum seekers. us to enjoy God’s forgiveness Th e Afghan Pushtuns are as devastated spiritually as while others look for truth they are economically and socially. Th eir devotion to and righteousness in the Islam has been in place for centuries, and it has left wrong places? them spiritually empty. Pray for the unreached Pray that the Afghans in Moscow would be contacted and nations to know that only befriended by believers. Pray that they will hear about Christ has the power to the true and living God who loves them so that hope will forgive sins. begin fl owing in their lives. Pray that as they embrace Christ, they will be able to return to Afghanistan as bear- ers of hope to their own people.—JR

37 Day 29 John 19:30 Muslim Kurds in Moscow

oing on a hunger Jesus said, “It is fi nished.” strike is a very With that, He bowed His G strong statement of head and gave up His spirit. protest. Th is is what You might ask what is several Kurds in fi nished? Because of the fall of Moscow started in March 2012. It began Adam and Eve, Satan claimed with 15 individuals, authority over the peoples of A Kurdish girl but on the second the earth. With Jesus’ sacrifi ce day, another 45 joined them. Th ey were protesting the of Himself, He entered into a abuse of Kurds in Turkey, a nation that has a long track horrid struggle to reclaim His record of denying that the Kurds are a separate ethnic own, what was His by right of group. Th e protesters accused the Turkish army of using creation. Jesus won the victory chemical weapons and inhumane isolation techniques over the evil one. The war over against the Kurds. Th ese hunger strikes were carried out in conjunction with similar strikes in France and Satan’s claim to those peoples within Turkish prisons. still in darkness is fi nished, and Christ is the victor. Satan’s Being without a national homeland, the Kurds have known frustration for many years. In many claim is fi nished for eternity! places they have been driven out of their homes and All he can do now is deceive displaced. In some ways Moscow has offi cially been the nations into taking a path a friend to the Kurds because of the discord between that leads them away from Moscow and Turkey. But this has not provided the the Lamb of God who takes Kurds with practical everyday advantages. away the sins of the world. In a sad parallel way, the Kurds have lacked a true spiritual home, just as they have lacked a physical Pray that God’s children in one. For hundreds of years Sunni, Shi’ite, and Sufi Moscow will quickly tell the Islam have been the dominant religious “homes” of Kurds of Moscow about the the Kurds. good news of Christ’s love for them. Praise God for Pray that the 100,000 Kurds in Moscow will learn about redeeming those who call on the God of the Bible and turn to Him. Pray that these His Name! It is fi nished! Kurds will then take the gospel to their traditional home- lands in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.—JR

38 Day 30 Muslim Turks in Moscow John 8:36

just heard about a “ So if the Son sets you free, new restaurant,” I you will be free indeed. Mehmet excitedly told his friend as they left We are set free by the Son work in a Moscow of God! He said so Himself! factory. “It has Turkish This is something that we can food—even mercimek depend on no matter what Create International Create soup. And they even have authentic raki!” His friend responded, “Raki? If it circumstances we face. How is good raki, it will be heaven! I just hope they have a much do we believe it? Do bar that serves decent vodka.” we believe it enough to tell Like many young people in today’s world, the new the nations? Surprisingly, the generation of Turks living in Moscow is very concerned people who live in what is with the pursuit of pleasure. Food, drink, and dating now Turkey once believed are among their top priorities. Th ough they are the gospel message, but now offi cially Muslim, their worldview is secular. Many do the gospel is rarely heard in not practice Islam, seeing it only as their heritage and that land. Perhaps the Turks culture, not as something that aff ects their daily lives. in Moscow can hear it and Although the Bible, the JESUS Film, audio recordings respond by allowing the Son and other resources have been available in the Turkish to set them free from sin by language for decades, this people group has been very what He did on Good Friday. resistant to the gospel, and they remain unreached. Pray that the Turks in Pray for mission organizations and Russian churches to seize Moscow will hear and the opportunity to share God’s love with Turks in Moscow respond to Christ’s invitation who are drifting from their culture and religion. Pray for to be set free from sin. them to see the emptiness of alcohol, drugs, and immoral sexual relationships, and touch their hearts so that they will begin to long for something more. Ask the Lord to capture their hearts and use them to reach their families and countrymen in Russia and in Turkey for Christ.—CL

39 Day 31 Luke 24:5b-6a Muslim Turkmen in Moscow

arjih glanced at the Why do you look for the clock and saw that living among the dead? He M it was past midnight. He is not here; He has risen! had to be at work early in What comforting words from the morning, but decided to the angels! The Lord has risen! continue looking through the personal ads for just a Can anyone else make such few more minutes. a claim apart from Jesus, Aral KAZAKHSTAN Sea the Risen Christ? No one has Moving to Moscow, Marjih UZBEKISTAN had left behind his family ever risen from the dead TURKMENISTAN Caspian and friends. Making new except from the command Sea friends here was proving to of our Lord. Upon hearing be diffi cult. His Russian co- IRAN AFGHANISTAN this good news from the workers often excluded him. angels, the women ran to tell He had seen other Turkmen others. Shouldn’t we be just discriminated against, so he tried not to let people as excited about telling the know where he was from. nations about the only One He missed his parents, his brother and sisters and his who has power over death? friends. Th ey were mostly farmers. His decision to go to Moscow had not been popular with them; it went Pray for a renewed boldness against the long-standing tradition of family and this Easter morning which clan sticking together. Th at’s why he had resorted to will enable us to go and tell visiting a singles website that specialized in helping of His resurrection victory to expatriate Turkmen living in Moscow fi nd each the nations. other. He was lonely and homesick. Th e Turkmen of Moscow are isolated as a minority group in a new and confusing culture. Instead of working as simple farmers or cattle herders, they must adjust to life in a fast-paced, sophisticated foreign city.

Pray for the homesickness and confusion of the Turkmen in Moscow to be used to lead them on a search for the true and living God.. Pray for the Lord to reveal Himself to them and draw them into a relationship with Christ. Pray for mission groups to fi nd innovative ways to share the gospel with the Turkmen.—CL 40 www.global-prayer-digest.org

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Replace with cover PDF Editorial April 2013 RECORDS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS U.S. Center for World Mission Dear Praying Friends, 1605 East Elizabeth Street Pasadena, CA 91104-2721 I am writing this editorial a Tel: (330) 626-3361 few days after spending a week [email protected]

in South Korea at the Ethne to MANAGING EDITOR Ethne mission conference. Th e Keith Carey focus of this meeting was on ASSISTANT EDITOR the establishment of a church Paula Fern for every unreached people WRITERS group in the world. Glenn Culbertson Patricia Depew During my time in Korea I met a number of vibrant Patti Ediger Wesley Kawato South Korean believers, including those who translate Arlene Knickerbocker and produce the Korean version of the Global Prayer Esther Jerome-Dharmaraj Christopher Lane Digest. (See photo of me with their staff on page 50). Annabeth Lewis Th e circulation of our prayer guide in the Korean lan- Charles Newcombe Ted Proffi tt guage has gone up by 10,000 in the last three years, but Lydia Reynolds the circulation of the English version has declined. Jeff Rockwell Jean Smith Th e South Korean church is known for its mission ef- Jane W. Sveska forts and prayer. At the conference we had a 24-hour DAILY BIBLE COMMENTARIES a day prayer room, and it was always fi lled with eager Dave Dougherty, Director of Plans and Training, OMF Intl. Korean intercessors. (Th anks to my jet lag, I would usu- Keith Carey, Managing Editor, GPD ally join them at three or four A.M.). Meanwhile, the CUSTOMER SERVICE Chinese church is noted for its willingness to undertake Dan Eddy some of the most diffi cult assignments in order to bring GRAPHICS the gospel to the remaining unreached people groups. Amanda Valloza Th ere are some very large unreached groups in the PRINTER Diversifi ed Printers , La Mirada, CA northeast Asian region, including the Japanese, the North Koreans, and a few people group clusters from WEB SITE China like the Zhuang and the Nosu. Th ere are also a www.globalprayerdigest.org couple of groups, too. ISSN 1045-9731 Contents of the Global Prayer Digest © 2013 Will these peoples remain unreached for long? U.S. Center for World Mission 1605 East Elizabeth Street Probably not! So one of the main things to pray for this Pasadena, CA 91104 month is that spiritual eyes will be opened and fruit Contents of this booklet may be will come from these mission eff orts. Let’s pray! reproduced if appropriate credit and subscription information are given. In Christ, For subscription information, call (330) 626-3361. For comments on content, call (626) 398-2241.

Keith Carey, managing editor, GPD Cover Photo: shutterstock.com/ takayuki 46 Feature of the Month

Pray for a Christ-centered Fellowship Among the Largest Unreached People Groups in NE Asia

RUSSIA

MONGOLIA

N. KOREA JAPAN CHINA S. KOREA

47 To Help You Pray Better —by Keith—by Carey 48 Background until we get to the April 30thentry.until we gettotheApril Japanese, andwork ourwaydowntothesecondlargest, etc., group Asia, inNortheast the we willcover thelargest region. However, inthisissue people groups ofagiven features thelargestunreached doneanissuethat never years thismonth, we have we have beenaround for31 Prayer Digest a uniqueissueofthe South Korea and Japan developed capitalistic Korea capitalistic andJapandeveloped South sponsors.controlled economymuch liketheir Soviet KoreaNorth acommunist developed government- the keynations withinfl defeated in WWII, were andtheUnitedStates Russia ofChina. part and thenortheastern Japanwas After conquered Korea theJapanesemilitary 20th century dominated by Chinesedynasties. various Inthe early At manytimesinitslonghistory, thisregion was respectively.and third largesteconomiesintheworld the rest oftheworld. ChinaandJapanhave thesecond kilometer, thepopulationisthree timestheaverage of of133peoplepersquare apopulationdensity With Japan,including China, , andthetwo Koreas. why itissoimportant. We are defi Before we getstarted, let’s defi W Left Behind in Northeast Asia inNortheast Left Behind ( your hands is your handsis holding in hat you are GPD ). Th Global Global ough ough uence inthisvastregion. ne this region and review ne thisregion and review ning Northeast Asia as Asiaas ning Northeast Left Behind in Northeast Asia economies that refl ected the infl uence of the United States, the nation that directed them during this time. Th e latter two nations developed strong industrialized economies, while North Korea continued a downward spiral into deprivation and eventually starvation. China began with a Communist economy, but took a signifi cant turn after its founder, Mao Zedong, died in 1976. Today, China’s economy is second only to that of the United States, and they are an emerging world power. Th us there is tremendous economic strength in this part of the world. Varied Spiritual Conditions Th is region has traditionally been a stronghold of Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism. In the 20th Century it was also a battleground between Communism and Western style capitalism. Christianity came and went in this area a couple of times. Starting in the A.D. 300s, Nestorian Christians took the gospel to China and Mongolia and, perhaps, even to Korea and Japan. Nestorian Christianity was wiped out by the time Matteo Ricci and his Jesuits arrived in the 1500s. Using aspects of Chinese culture, Ricci managed to get the Catholic Church fi rmly established in China. In the 19th Century Protestant missionaries established mission stations which were culturally foreign to the Chinese. Finally in 1865, J. Hudson Taylor (see biography, days 1-3) founded the China Inland Mission (CIM). His missionaries were expected to dress like the Chinese and live like them. More importantly, they were expected to do their work in the highly neglected inland regions of China. Within 30 years, CIM had established a gospel presence in every province of China. Th ese Protestant churches thrived under persecution brought on by the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). Today the Church in China may number over 100 million people and is eager to extend Christ’s Kingdom to other parts of the world. Th eir missionaries are fanning out everywhere between China and Jerusalem where the gospel fi rst emerged. Th e Church in Korea grew very slowly at fi rst. In the 20th Century, as the Japanese began to extend their control over the Korean Peninsula, Koreans looked to Presbyterian missionaries as allies. Becoming a Christian became a way to defy the Japanese overlords. Th e Korean Church grew rapidly. When Japan was expelled from the Korean Peninsula, the Soviet Union sponsored a harsh Communist government in North Korea that drove the Christians to the American-dominated south. In South Korea, a strong

continued on next page 49 Left Behind in Northeast Asia

church emerged. With the constant threat of invasion from North Korea, the South Korean Church developed a powerful prayer life. As time went on, they also developed a strong mission-sending base. Today South Korea sends out more missionaries than any other country other than the United States. Far The Korean GPD staff . Over 48,000 Koreans now use the GPD more Korean speakers use the prayer guide you are holding than English speakers. In Mongolia, the church did not take root until Communism fell. In 1990, a church began to develop, led largely by teenagers who were more open to the gospel then their elders. Because teenagers are held in low esteem in Mongolia, the church did not spread easily. Eventually the young people began praying for healing for their elders. As the Lord healed many, some Mongolian elders realized that the God of the Bible holds all power. Some of them were willing to give Him their allegiance. Th ough Mongolians are still unreached, they have a growing church, and they are sending some missionaries to unreached people groups. Eff orts to reach the Japanese have resulted in smaller harvests than missionaries had hoped for, and the Church in Japan has remained small. Today, missionaries are welcome in Japan. Th ere has been some good news of Japanese people coming to Christ when believers provided relief after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. More recently, evangelistic eff orts have borne more fruit (see day 4), but the Japanese remain one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. Overview Of the groups that we will cover this month, the Japanese, with a population of about 125 million, are the largest unreached people group. Th ey have their own Bible, pastors, churches, and even missionaries. Yet the Japanese church remains relatively small.

5050 Left Behind in Northeast Asia

Th rough the centuries, God has moved among the many Han Chinese people groups. As mentioned earlier, the Han Chinese Christians actively send out missionaries. Yet there are a couple of very large Han Chinese peoples that still lack a powerful gospel witness. Th ese include the Xiang, the Hakkas, the Dans, and the Shaozhou Han Chinese. China is also home to many ethnic minorities, and many of them remain unreached. Prominent among them are the Muslim Hui and the ethnically Turkic Uighurs. We might some day have an entire month of prayer for the various Zhuang groups, six of which are on this list of the largest unreached people groups in East Asia. Th e two Dong peoples are also on this list. One of the reasons we are praying for the largest unreached peoples in China this month is that we have neglected some of them in the past. In China and Mongolia, there are two Mongolian people groups that we will cover in prayer. Th e Church in South Korea is strong, but the North Koreans have been isolated from the gospel by their tyrannical government. South Koreans are fervently praying for the North Koreans, as they wait for the day when this land will be open to the gospel. Meanwhile a few North Korean refugees have managed to escape to South Korea, and many of these have contact with South Korean believers. Let Us Pray! Remembering what God has done among the peoples of Northeast Asia in the past, let’s pray for Him to move among those who have not yet been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. GPD

51 Day 1 Psalms 24:1 Missionary Biography—Hudson Taylor

ake a cab home, Hudson. Arrange your The earth is the Lord’s, and “ aff airs as quickly as possible, for you are a everything in it, the world, T dead man!” His doctor’s words stunned J. Hudson and all who live in it. Taylor. He remembered that he had nicked himself One thing God impressed while dissecting a cadaver as part of his medical upon Hudson Taylor from studies. Th is fatal fever was the result. But Hudson, still in his early twenties, was also a man of faith. the time he embraced his Undaunted, he prayed, then wrote in his diary, Savior was that all the nations “Unless I am greatly mistaken, I have work to do in need the Lord. The earth is China, and shall not die.” the Lord’s, and so are all the And so it was! According to Ruth Tucker in, From nations. But the nations are in Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, “Th ere was perhaps no rebellion against their owner, other man since the Apostle Paul who carried out and it is our duty to bring a more systematized plan of evangelizing a broad them into a right relationship geographical area than Hudson Taylor. His sights with Him. This week you were set on reaching the whole of China, all 400 will read about Hudson million people….” Taylor, a man who mobilized Hudson Taylor was born in Yorkshire, England thousands to go to those who in 1832. His father, a pharmacist, was also a lay are in rebellion against their preacher in the Methodist church, one who spoke often of the need to win the whole world to Christ. Owner. Taylor’s words inspire By the time Hudson was fi ve, he was telling people many to change their lives he wanted to be a missionary, maybe to China. Not even today, more than 150 until he was 17, however, was he fi nally converted years later! through reading a tract at a time when his mother was praying for him. Pray that the Church will be inspired by men like Hudson Pray for intercessors to call men and women of stalwart Taylor to call rebellious commitment to the Lord’s work.—AL mankind back to their Owner.

52 Day 2 Missionary Biography, Continued Psalms 8:4

fter recovering from his illness, Taylor continued What is man that you are with medical studies, living as frugally as possible A mindful of him, the son of in a barren attic so as to prepare himself for missionary man that you care for him? service. Because of the need, he was persuaded to leave for China before completing his studies. He was Let’s not kid ourselves; we are dismayed to fi nd on arrival that the missionaries who not lovable, especially in our were to meet him had either died or left China. Civil natural, sinful state. One of war was raging, and Shanghai was dangerous. the many evidences of God’s At fi rst Taylor worked in Shanghai, where his medical holiness is His lovingkindness work and ministry went well. But he was not content to sinful, rebellious mankind. to live in what he considered the “lap of luxury” as the other missionaries did. Taylor started to make trips He shows us His love, and we away from the treaty ports on the coasts, where all the reject it. That has been the other Protestant missionaries lived. On one such trip way of mankind ever since he visited nearly 60 villages never before visited by a the fall in Genesis 3. As mere Protestant missionary. He came back with an intense humans, we cannot match burden for Inland China. He noticed that unlike such gracious love! This is the port cities where Westerners were a common the God whom we represent sight, just a few miles inland he could cause a major before the unreached peoples. disturbance because of his blue eyes and sandy colored hair. He decided to adopt Chinese dress and braided Isn’t He worth it? his hair into a long pigtail. He now blended in with Pray for the Lord’s the crowds. lovingkindness to soon His fellow missionaries, however, were not impressed. be experienced by the Th ough they criticized him, he continued to do unreached peoples we will whatever would most enable him to reach the inland be praying for this month. Chinese for Christ.

Pray that missionaries will evade the fear of man and do what God directs them to do.—AL

53 Day 3 Psalms 71:15, NIV Missionary Biography, Continued

n 1858, Hudson Taylor married Maria Dyer. My mouth will tell of Your Maria polished Hudson’s “rough edges” and righteousness, of Your I helped him to focus his enthusiasm and ambitions. salvation all day long, though She also made friends among the Chinese women. I know not its measure. Best of all, she shared Hudson’s passion for the Can any of us even fathom the evangelization of China’s inland provinces. She was righteousness of the Lord? No, his best friend and trusted counselor. not one of us! We can believe In 1860, Hudson became very ill, and the family in His righteousness only by returned to England on furlough. In England, faith. Yet we can experience His Hudson Taylor asked God to raise up workers for a new agency dedicated to the inland regions of China. genius and goodness through God answered this seemingly impossible prayer His creation. We can allow His by getting even more people then he prayed for to love and mercy to penetrate go to China. Th us, he started an entire new era in our hearts when we read His Protestant missions dedicated to reaching people Word. And we can thank Him beyond the coastlands. for sending His Son to redeem Hudson Taylor obeyed God’s prompting and opened us from sin, and call us to a bank account for the new “China Inland Mission.” become part of His kingdom. Months before, he had compiled statistics and drawn diagrams on the size, population, and neglected Pray that we will share this condition of every province in China. He tirelessly faith with those who know recruited believers for the evangelization of China’s even less than we do about inland provinces. God answered prayer for new laborers the righteousness of the and fi nancial supporters to help evangelize China. Creator. Pray for Him to raise Th e China Inland Mission became a model for up more like Hudson Taylor dozens of new agencies committed to penetrating to call the unreached to the inland frontiers of countries around the world. It “taste and see that the Lord took 30 years for other mission agencies to begin to is good.” join Taylor in his emphasis on the unreached inland frontiers.—AL

From J. Hudson Taylor: A Biography, by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, Moody Press, 1977.

Pray for teams of workers to begin work with each of the largest unreached peoples in East Asia.

54 Day 4 Japanese People Psalms 62:5-6a

itsui wanted to help Find rest, O my soul, in God the earthquake and M alone; my hope comes from tsunami victims in northern Him. He alone is my rock Japan, so he set aside his studies at a Tokyo university and my salvation… and looked for a group he One of the main things Pacific Ocean could join. All of the groups Japanese people seek in he found were Christian Eastern religion is peace. CHINA RUSSIA ministries. Mitsui wasn’t sure if God even existed, but There is an inner peace that all N. KOREA he still joined one of the of us lack in our souls. Christ S. off ers peace, but not the KOREA JAPAN relief teams headed for the Tokyo devastation zone. In the van kind of peace that the world Kyoto on the way up, the other off ers. He off ers the kind of team members, who were peace that only comes from Christians, spent much time knowing that the Creator of in prayer. In the devastation zone Mitsui saw the love of God in action. By the time he returned home he the Universe is in control of wanted what these Christians had and asked how he our lives. Our hope comes could start a new life with Jesus Christ. from God alone, our rock and salvation. At this time there Many concerned people found that a year after the March 11, 2011 disaster only the various Christian are about 7,000 unreached ministries, such as Cru International, remained people groups, including the interested in helping the survivors start their lives over large ones from Northeast again. Th ese groups have often allowed nonbelievers Asia that we are praying for to join their relief teams. Many of these people have this month, who have no returned home with a hunger to know the God chance to experience this kind of their Christian teammates. As a result many of peace. have embraced Christ and His ways. Th e revival in northern Japan has now spread to Tokyo and points Pray that as the nations further south! come to the Father, they will experience peace in their souls Pray for the spiritual growth of the people being won to that only can come from a the Lord in Japan. Ask God to hasten the planting of new relationship with Christ. churches in areas where none have existed before. Pray that the current revival will spread to all parts of Japan.—WK

55 Day 5 Psalms 29:11 Xiang (Shee-ang) Han Chinese People

ride goes before The Lord gives strength to “ destruction, and His people; the Lord blesses P a haughty spirit before His people with peace. stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18). God is our constant source of In China this pride is strength. Without Him, we nowhere as apparent as could not endure the daily among the Xiang Han struggles of life. He gives us Chinese of Hunan Province; Sichuan supernatural strength each day Jiangxi they are possibly China’s Hunan spiritually hardest to reach whether we know it or not. Guizhou Han Chinese population. Those who have no access to Guangxi Guangdong Th ey have an anti-foreign Christ do not know of His great VIET. Hong spirit which historically love for them. This is one of the Kong LAOS HAINAN has slowed the penetration reasons He strengthens us to of the gospel, as it was extend His kingdom to such long considered a Western people. Are we willing to be religion. In 1911 the Xiang people were described as strengthened for this purpose? “the best haters and fi ghters in China.” In 1861 Welsh missionary Griffi th John met a Hunan military man. Ask God to help us to pray He boasted of the glory and martial courage of Hunan without ceasing for lost nations men and said there was no danger of them ever like the Xiang Han Chinese. believing in Jesus or His religion taking root there. Th e Xiang Han are the largest Han group, numbering over 35 million, mostly living in Hunan Province. Even though the Xiang people have been resistant to the gospel, we know that nothing is too hard for God. Fervent prayer can break the stronghold of pride that has dominated the Xiang spirit, and it can soften hearts to joyfully receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Pray for God to strengthen, grow, and energize the small group of Xiang believers in Hunan Province in the power of His Holy Spirit. Pray that the fi re of their enthusiasm and ministry will penetrate every level of Xiang society so that the love of Christ will become contagious, sweeping away pride, and leaving humble hearts eager to receive Jesus.—JS

56 Day 6 Hakka (Hah-kah) People Psalms 67:4

he old man worked May the nations be glad and his hillside fi eld T sing for joy, for You rule the in southern China. He peoples justly and guide the belonged to the group, and his nations of the earth. family had lived in As a follower of Christ, you Guangdong Province for know that the nations urgently centuries. He saw other need to hear of His justice, farmers working their fi elds in the distance but mercy, and salvation. But as didn’t bother calling out the father of modern missions, A Hakka man to them. Th ey weren’t William Carey, pointed out over Hakka, and he knew they wouldn’t acknowledge him in 200 years ago, most people any way because they couldn’t speak his Hakka dialect. don’t have a choice to choose Th e Hakka people migrated to southern China Christ. For centuries their centuries ago after being driven out of northern China forefathers have off ered them by Mongol invaders. Th ey speak either Hakka or something other than God’s Mandarin Chinese, which is very diff erent from the perfect ways. Isn’t it only right Cantonese dialects spoken by many of their neighbors that they have the chance to be in southern China and Taiwan. Other people groups glad and sing for joy to the One living in the same area consider the Hakka to be foreigners and shun them. who rules justly and guides the nations? Don’t they have the Before the Communist Revolution of 1949 the Hakka right to worship the only One in mainland China were heavily involved in ancestor worship. Today most Hakka have no religious beliefs, worthy of our praise? Don’t we due to the infl uence of Communism. owe them that chance? May God’s rule soon extend Ask God to open the hearts of the Hakka to the message of to the unreached peoples! salvation. May this people group realize that God truly exists. Some Hakkas in Taiwan are believers, but there is not yet a strong Christ-ward movement among them. Pray for a full harvest among the Hakka people, both in Taiwan and in China. Th e Hakkas on Hainan Island are especially unreached. Pray for the Lord to move in that part of China.—WK

57 Day 7 Psalms 19:1 North Koreans

s that a yellow balloon The heavens declare the glory “ I see?” muttered the of God; the skies proclaim the I boy. It is! Looking around work of His hands. Sea of cautiously, he ran to get Japan I once saw a telephone book it. It had an attached note with a spectacular picture of that read, “Jesus loves you Pacific enough to pay for your sins. the cosmos on the cover of it. Ocean We are praying for you.” It read, “The heavens declare With the note was a picture the glory.” What was missing? CHINA of Jesus hanging on a cross. Who gets the glory! All peoples Th e boy tilted his head in on the face of the earth can puzzlement. He’d never NORTH look in the sky and see the KOREA heard of Jesus Christ. East China glory of their Maker. Some, Sea P’yongyang Groups of concerned like the secularist who edited S. KOREA people, some of them this verse, have decided to Christians, have sent ignore that the glory belongs balloons with messages of hope into the air near the to the Lord. Others, perhaps border between South Korea and North Korea. Th e prevailing winds send these balloons into North representatives of unreached Korea, and people like this boy are able to get a people groups, can look up into gospel message. the sky and see that there is a North Korea is facing mass starvation as a result of Creator who alone is worthy of its mismanaged Communist economy. All religions our worship. are banned in North Korea, and thousands of believers have been imprisoned for their faith. Pray that despite what they have been taught, North Koreans today will see His Pray for the end of famine and oppression in North glory in nature all around Korea. Ask God to protect the people who risk their lives them and respond by giving each day to share the love of God with the people of North Him praise. Korea. Pray that God would open North Korean hearts to the message of salvation. Ask the Lord to end the persecu- tion of Christians in that country.—WK

58 Day 8 Hui (Whey) People of China Matthew 9:38

he two Hui men Ask the Lord of the harvest, watched as the T therefore, to send out street vendor prepared workers into his harvest fi eld. their meal. Th ere was rice and steamed There are many obstacles broccoli, but there was facing a person who wants also pork. Th e two to “harvest” souls among the men looked at each other with sly grins. Hui people. Such a person “What a fi ne meal,” one would face a hostile and

Create International Create said. “We will certainly powerful government that Is that mutton or pork behind enjoy the mutton.” Th e does not want workers to stir this Hui man? other man nodded his up contentious issues among agreement. “Yes. We will enjoy the mutton.” a Muslim people. There is As Muslims, the Hui people are forbidden from eating the obstacle of Islam, which any form of pork. However, they sometimes hedge on sets itself up as a perfect this by calling it mutton. religious system. Many Hui Although they may seem similar to Han Chinese people sincerely believe that groups, the Hui are actually relative newcomers to Islam has the answers to China. Th ey either migrated or were forcibly moved to all our spiritual problems, China by Mongolian troops in the 13th century. and they are likely to be Hui is short for HuiHui, which became a term to resistant to anyone who tells denote that a people group was entirely Muslim. them otherwise. Yet there Despite the fact that there are nearly 11 million Hui is a harvest, and God wants scattered across China, there is not a single known someone to go. Christ-centered fellowship or church among them. Th e majority of the Hui have never even heard the Pray for harvesters to gospel message. overcome all obstacles and go to the Hui people. Pray for the growing Han church to begin reaching out to their Hui neighbors. Pray that Bibles and gospel materi- als will be distributed to the Hui and will bear much fruit. Ask the Lord to work in the hearts of these people and es- tablish groups of believers that will transform Hui society for the better.—CL

59 Day 9 Psalms 67:3 Uighur (We-gur) People of China

urghunjun pulled May the peoples praise You, his young grandson, O God; may all the peoples T Alim through the crowded praise You. marketplace. “Where Because of the compelling are we going, grandpa?” love of Jesus (cf. (2 Cor. Alim asked. “To buy dumplings?” Turghunjun 5:14), this psalm can be the smiled at him. “Maybe prayer of our hearts, that the Create International Create later. First we are going whole earth may receive the Here’s one example to the barber.” “Again?” blessing of Abraham which Alim felt under his hat and rubbed his nearly bald we have received through head. “But I don’t have much hair.” Looking up at Christ. Perhaps this psalm his grandfather, he smiled and added, “And neither was on Charles Wesley’s do you.” “We have more than enough,” Turghunjun heart when he wrote the replied. “We have too much.” “Too much for what, grandpa?” “Too much for Uighur men.” words to his hymn, “O for a thousand tongues to sing my Most Uighur men shave their heads and wear hats. great Redeemer’s praise.” The It is their heritage and their identity, just as folk Islam has been handed down from generation to second verse of that hymn generation. Strangely, there was a time when many reminds us that it is God, “our Uighurs were Christians. From the 12th to the 13th gracious Master, who assists centuries, most were considered to be followers us to spread through all the of Christ. By the 15th century, however, Islam earth abroad, the honors of had become the dominant religion, mixing with a (His) Name.” lingering belief in shamanism. Today, most of the Uighur live in the Pray that He will soon be Autonomous Region of China’s far northwest. known by the Uighurs, and Th ough they are surrounded by Han Chinese that they will honor and believers, few have heard the gospel message, and praise His Name. even fewer have responded, since relations are strained between the Uighurs and the Han Chinese.

Pray for Christ’s followers living in and around this re- gion to share the good news with the Uighur. Pray for their hearts to be ready to hear and to enter into a re- lationship with Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to unite the Uighur people (Uighur means “united”) in His love and establish His church among them.—CL 60 Day 10 Tujia (Too-jeeah) People of China Psalms 98:2

enturies ago a heard of bulls grazed peacefully The Lord has made His on the Chinese hillside. Suddenly a tiger C salvation known and appeared nearby. Startled and frightened, the bulls shied away from this threat. Th en they gathered their revealed His righteousness courage and regained their composure. Th ey charged to the nations. at the tiger, chasing away their enemy. Since then the In one way the Lord has made Tujia people consider “the bull’s eye as a symbol of the His salvation known to all the victory of good over evil.” (See: http://goo.gl/uv5hk) earth. According to what we Th e vast majority of the Tujia people follow traditional read in Romans 1, creation ethnic religions. One practice involves a form of itself reveals God’s glory to exorcism when a spiritual leader calls on the spirits all the nations. Everyone of the fi rst humans. With the aid of these spirits, the ceremony includes climbing a ladder of sharp knives knows something of God’s and walking on hot coals. righteousness through what they see around them. Some With a population nearing 9,000,000, the Tujia people form one of the largest offi cial minority groups may grasp for straws through in China. Although some missionary work began in evolution and other absurd the Tujia region about 200 years ago, those eff orts explanations of the origins wound up focusing on the Han Chinese rather than of the universe, but they are the ethnic Tujia people. As a result only about 0.5 merely ignoring the obvious. percent of the Tujia people call themselves Christian. All they have to do is look to Still fewer profess a relationship with Christ. His creation, and they will see the genius of the Creator. Pray that God will soon stir a ministry group to focus on the Tujia people through regular intercession and eff orts to Pray that as the Tujia people reach them for Christ. Pray that God would stir a hunger look around them at God’s and thirst in the hearts of Tujia leaders that can only be creation, they will see His satisfi ed by Christ.—GEC work and begin their path to salvation.

61 Day 11 Psalms 106:2 Peripheral in China

he Mongols were beating Who can proclaim the the tablets loudly, mighty acts of the Lord or T announcing the time to fully declare His praise? worship Jesus. Public chanting None of us can fully fathom all of his praise resounded across that the Lord has done. Let’s the windswept land. Th e Mongol believer sat imagining face it, we can’t even fathom

Create International Create what that must have been like one light year, let alone A Mongolian matriarch hundreds of years earlier. At trillions of them! But we take it that time there were more than 200,000 Mongol by faith in Christ that He is the believers, and they nearly adopted Christianity creator, and we can trust His as their religion. Th e numbers soon dropped guidance and wisdom. What signifi cantly, and today there are fewer than 20,000 a privilege it is to worship Mongol believers in China. such an awesome God! As you Nearing a population of seven million, the Peripheral worship Him, remember to Mongols inhabit the lands of northern China pray for those who have never bordering Mongolia. While Genghis Khan united heard about their creator. all of the nomadic Mongol tribes (13 at the time), the Mongols are now believed to be 60 separate Pray for the Holy Spirit to tribes. Th e Peripheral Mongolians are listed as one of direct the unreached to see China’s offi cial nationalities. His handiwork and learn how Th e Peripheral Mongols are largely Buddhists with great He is. Pray for Him to shamanistic beliefs mixed in. Some embrace atheism. send believers to tell them Th ough less than one percent of them are believers, about the God who loves them. Christianity is now surging among them. Th e Bible is completely translated into the common dialect, and other resources like the JESUS Film and Christian radio broadcasting are available. Now they need discipleship and outreach strategies in the midst of a challenging economic situation.

Pray that the resurgence of shamanism will give way to the power of Jesus as bold believers proclaim the gos- pel. Pray that an authentically Peripheral Mongolian church will attract the older generation. Pray for the Lord to speed the day when there will be many Peripheral Mongol believers experiencing the love of Christ in their daily lives.—LR 62 Day 12 Dan Han Chinese People Psalms 49:15, NIV

he old man But God will redeem my stubbornly resisted T life from the grave; He will his son’s urging for him surely take me to Himself. to come ashore and visit the local market. Why We are redeemed, forgiven, should he do that? He had and transformed. So much never set foot ashore, and to be thankful for! This is he vowed that he never would until his coffi n a great verse to use when carried him there. After explaining the rewards for Operation China Operation all, didn’t other Chinese following Christ. But isn’t have a saying that a Dan person “on the water is a our faith more than a ticket veritable dragon, on land he is only a miserable worm.” to heaven? Shouldn’t we be He would remain proud; a dragon until the end! concerned for peoples like the Th e Dan Han prefer to be called Soisangyan, a name Dan Chinese who don’t know which means “water-borne people.” Others simply God and have no way to know refer to them as boat people. Whole families live on about Him until someone small boats that seldom if ever touch the shore. It is goes to them? Shouldn’t we commonplace to see dogs, cats, chickens, and children be praying fervently for the moving freely from deck to deck. Th ey naturally live in the coastal areas of China: Guangdong, Guangxi, Dan? Entire nations still wait Hainan Island, Hong Kong, and Macao. to hear; some of them include millions of people. Churches have existed among the Dan people in Hong Kong for more than 50 years due to the Eagerly pray for these large deliberate missionary eff orts of those who boarded unreached groups this their boats to share the love of Christ. However, their month! Pray that the Lord status in Hong Kong has been greatly diminished will send believers to the in recent years since the government outlawed the unreached peoples so that practice of living on boats. Most Dan can understand they can experience His Cantonese, and there are many resources available to merciful salvation. them in that language.

Pray for God to raise up some modern day Dan evangelists who will obey the call to become fi shers of men.—JS

63 Day 13 Psalms 119: 18 Subei (soo-bey) People of China

fter moving to Open my eyes that I may Shanghai for her new see wonderful things in A job, Hua began to learn the Your law. CHINA hard way about not fi tting Have you ever prayed for your in with the Han Chinese eyes to be opened to know Hong Kong majority. On her fi rst day at work she wore a pretty more of His ways? Your eyes outfi t trimmed in red. As have been opened to a degree, she walked into the offi ce, a since you have accepted His Beijing N. KOREA co-worker muttered, “Th at lordship. Yet we all have so Subei outfi t is so ugly.” Th e much more to learn of Him S. KOREA color red is traditionally worn by Subei women. And and from Him! However, has CHINA it occurred to you that you can Shanghai the are looked down on and scorned by also pray for the eyes of the the dominant Han Chinese unreached people groups to culture. Joshua Project says that “Subei swine” is a be opened so that they can terrible insult in Shanghai. see wonderful things in His Outsiders will not recognize the Subei as being Word? This is one of the best diff erent from the majority population, but locals things that you can pray for know. Th ey have a distinct accent and dialect. For the nations! a hundred years they have congregated en masse in Shanghai. Although they have largely blended in, they As you intercede for the still face discrimination. Th ey are treated as dirty and Subei people today, pray stupid. As the Joshua Project quotes, “Th e only reason that they will see wonderful they’re dirty is because they’re poor, and they’re poor things in His Word. Pray that because they are uneducated, and they are uneducated the Lord will remove barriers because they are discriminated against.” to the Subei people having access to His Word. Shanghai has a relatively large Christian witness, but the Subei people have yet to be signifi cantly aff ected by the followers of Jesus.

Pray that God will open the eyes of His people in Shanghai to reach out to this discriminated group. Pray that the Subei will recognize the hope that Jesus holds for them. Pray that God will raise up prayer warriors to in- tercede for the Subei people.—GEC

64 Day 14 Bouyei (Boo-yee) People of China Psalms 29:4

he midwife came when The voice of the Lord is called. As she entered T powerful; the voice of the the modest home, she placed Lord is majestic. a tree branch across the door to prevent intruders I have often told Perspectives from entering. Her assistant classes that if I had a million built an altar to the spirits, dollars to give to one group, it assuring a smooth delivery of the baby. Hours passed. would be to the Wycliff e Bible Translators. Why? The voice Hattaway Infant cries fi lled the air. A Bouyei woman Soon the midwife gathered of the Lord is powerful, and the placenta and buried it under the new mother’s bed. He speaks through His Word, Th us, according to the beliefs of the , the Bible! Throughout Church the spirits were satisfi ed, and the baby would prosper. history, you can see that the Only 12 percent of the Bouyei have attended school nations that have His Word beyond the primary grades, one of the lowest can stand up to adversity percentages of the minorities in China. As a result, and persecution. Those that many superstitions dictate their lives. have fellowships, but no Bible, In contrast, the valley they call home has two major often cannot. The voice of the hydroelectric power dams known as TSQ-I and II. Lord is powerful and majestic, Th ese constructions provide electric power to a wide and we can experience it by region. Workers from around the world and especially reading His Word. Shouldn’t around China operate the facilities and oversee the power grid. On one hand the Bouyei people seek to others have that experience appease and direct the power of the spirit world. On as well? the other hand they see power coming from a man- made construction. Pray that the nations will experience the voice of the In recent years several mission agencies began Lord through the eff orts of focusing on the Bouyei. As yet, no more than 5,000 Bible translators as they make of this group can be counted as followers of Christ Him known. Pray for accuracy among almost three million people (Joshua Project). in Bible translation projects.

Pray that these outreach eff orts will bear a great harvest for the kingdom of God. Pray that Bouyei leaders will recog- nize the life-changing power of our living Lord.—GEC

65 Day 15 Psalms 66:13 Southern Dong People of China

ave you ever seen a bull I will come to Your temple fi ght? You can watch with burnt off erings, and H them in Spain and Latin fulfi ll my vows to You…. CHINA America, especially in Mexico. Who but the Almighty Creator Th e matador confronts the and Savior is worthy of our Hong Kong bull with a cape and sword. Th e picador prods the bull to sacrifi ces and vows? No one! make it angry. Sometimes Have you made any promises matadors are gored. to God? In a way when you Sichuan So what have bull fi ghts to fi rst accepted His salvation Hunan do with the Southern Dong you promised to serve Him Guizhou Guiyang people of China? Simply this: for eternity. That is what we the Dong love bull fi ghts, mean when we call Him Lord. Guangxi pitting one village’s bull Yunnan Have you promised to take against another village’s bull. His Kingdom to the nations? Th e Dong are much like the Zhuang peoples of China, It’s hard to daily stay focused a composite group numbering about 2.2 million. Th e making a sacrifi ce of praise and government associated a number of diff erent groups intercession for the lost. Today together and called them the Dong. Th e Southern let us return to our vows. Dong numbers some 1.5 million in Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hunan Provinces. Others live in Vietnam. Th e Pray that those who have Southern Dong have retained much of their ancestral promised to take His culture. For example, they worship many deities: gods kingdom to the nations will of the villages, homes, and agriculture. Th ey keep do it soon. ancestral shrines in their houses. Although about half of the Dong read Chinese, they do not read their own languages. Th e JESUS Film has recently become available in their language, and there are some gospel recordings also. Although China Inland Mission (CIM) evangelized this group from 1910 to 1949, only about one percent of them follow Christ. Starting in 1998, a house church of some 40 people developed.

Pray for spiritual growth among the few believers. Pray that these believers will take Christ’s Kingdom to their neighbors.—TP 66 Day 16 Hongshuig Zhuang People Psalms 96:5

n Matthew 13 For all the gods of the Jesus told the I nations are idols—but the story of the sower. Lord made the heavens. He went out, casting the seed over Look at the contrast here: the various places with gods are mere idols of wood, diff ering degrees of stone and metal. But the Lord result. Some seeds

Create International Create is the Creator. That means He A Zhuang boy produced plants quickly, which died created the wood, stone and just as quickly. Some seed produced healthier crops gold used to make the idols, many times over what was planted. not to mention the galaxies! Th e Hongshuig Zhuang people of China are locally Given a choice, whom would known as the “people of the soil.” Th eir homes are you worship? Don’t the built on stilts in the midst of the rice fi elds that they nations have a right to know cultivate. Th ey are probably descended from a people their Creator, so they can ditch group that was exiled out of their homes during the these worthless idols and Qin dynasty (221-207 BC). More than two million worship Him alone? Hongshuig Zhuangs are now living across the south central part of China. An interesting tradition is for Pray that our intercession a newly married bride to continue to live with her this month will result in parents until the birth of her fi rst child. Only then many from the Zhuang will she go to live with her husband. peoples turning from Superstition and spirit appeasement are long-held, worthless idols to worship crippling traditions among the Hongshuig Zhuang the One who made heaven people. Th ey are extremely careful not to off end the and earth. spirits they believe to be constantly surrounding them in water, fi re, forest, or the mountains.

Pray that spiritual seed will be planted and produce an abundant crop among the Hongshuig Zhuang people. Pray that the church will begin moving intentionally among them, bringing the gospel of hope and peace. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough that will impact Hongshuig Zhuang communities in such a way that outsiders will be amazed at what Christ can do.—JR

67 Day 17 Psalms 37:4 Eastern Hongshuig Zhuang People

s the rain and the Delight yourself in the Lord snow come down and He will give you the A from heaven, and do desires of your heart. not return to it without This is one of the Bible’s most watering the earth and quoted verses, yet one of the making it bud and fl ourish, so that it yields seed for the hardest ones to live up to. sower and bread for the We delight ourselves in the eater, so is my Word that Lord. We want Him to give us goes out from my mouth: the desires of our hearts. But It will not return to me we often forget that unless empty, but will accomplish Create International Create what I desire and will we delight ourselves in Him A Zhuang gentleman enough to want what He achieve the purpose for wants, we will settle for the which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-12, NIV). self-centered desires of our Th e fi rst known Protestant missionary to the Zhuang hearts. One of the desires of peoples was R.H. Graves, a Southern Baptist, His heart is to see the nations arriving in 1862. Th e Christian and Missionary Alliance began a work in the same region in 1895, streaming to His kingdom. Is and went on to establish churches. Th ey planted 65 that the desire of your heart? churches over a course of 50 years. Most of these churches were attended by Han Chinese rather than Pray that the Holy Spirit will Zhuang people. Because there is a broad linguistic prompt us to desire what He diversity among the Zhuang, it has been diffi cult wants for the nations. to connect with many of them. In 1922 there was a report describing Guangxi Province where many Zhuang live that stated: “Th ere are 58 cities, 700 market towns, and over 17,000 villages, all teeming with human lives for whom no [gospel] eff ort whatever is being put forth.” Th e situation is much the same in 2013 as it was in 1922.

Pray that the Lord would stir the right people to make specifi c eff orts toward reaching the Eastern Hongshuig Zhuang. Pray that His Word will become more available and meaningful to them.—JR

68 Day 18 Khalka (Hahl-ka) Mongols of Mongolia Psalms 46:10

ou’re just like “ Be still and know that I Genghis Khan!” Y am God; I will be exalted the man shouted at his among the nations, I will be father. Th e old man looked to his son, and they both exalted in the earth. broke into laughter. He So often we remember the could receive no higher fi rst part of this verse but compliment than to be forget the second part. “Be compared to the founder of RUSSIA the Khalka Mongol people. still and know that I am God,” is used as an exhortation to Ulaan Baatar Th is 13th century leader put our faith in God in any MONGOLIA created the largest land empire the world has ever situation. Yes, we must have CHINA known. A brutal regime, they faith in Him no matter what were called the “people from may happen. But there is a hell.” Later when the growth defi nite purpose to being still: of China and Russia pressed in toward Mongolia, they to know that He will be exalted yielded to Marxism until their quiet revolt in 1990. in all the earth. Does it give us Believing they are Khan’s descendants, the Khalka peace and joy to know that the Mongols have dominated the Mongol peoples in one glorious One will be exalted form or another for hundreds of years. Th ey consider among the nations? Shouldn’t themselves responsible for preserving Mongol culture. we be thankful for what He All Mongols speak variations of the Khalka dialect. will do among the nations? Several decades ago, about half of the Khalkas raised livestock, but due to environmental changes they now Pray that you will experience seek other livelihoods such as mining. Most Khalkas His joy in knowing that the are poor. An increase in urbanization has forced a nations will be reached. change in lifestyle for many, but has also opened doors for the Khalkas to hear the gospel. Most are Buddhist or atheist with an undertone of shamanism, but recently church growth has exploded in Mongolia. Now it is estimated that more than two percent of the Khalkas are believers.

Pray that the Khalkas will long to know Jesus. Pray for the Lord to empower Khalka believers to reach the Mongol and Tibetan peoples.—LR 69 Day 19 Romans 8:39 Kazakh (Kar-zark) People in China

nd then the beautiful white goose turned …neither height nor “ into a princess!” the old man said. Most depth, nor anything else in …A of the children sitting in the circle around him had all creation, will be able to heard this tale before, but they were hanging on the separate us from the love of old man’s every word. He continued. “Th is princess God that is in Christ Jesus was very beautiful—even more beautiful than she our Lord. had been as a goose. It was this beautiful princess Like the other unreached that gave birth to our fi rst people.” Th e children cheered. “We are called Kazakhs because of her. Kaz people groups, the Kazakhs means ‘goose.’ Ak means ‘white.’ We are people of are loved by God, but they are the white goose.” not aware of it. Nothing can Th ough the Kazakh people often retell the fable of separate us from the love of the white goose, the origin of their name probably God! Yet we can be unaware comes from the Turkic word gaz, which means to of it, and ignore the Lover of wander. When the grandsons of Genghis Khan our souls. arrived in the region, their rule expanded to encompass the area that is now Kazakhstan. Th ree Pray that the Kazakhs will principal tribes were established that still exist today. become aware of His love and be drawn to Him and His Islam is the main religion of the Kazakh people, but kingdom. it is mixed with the shamanism and animism that have been part of their culture since ancient times.

Pray for the Kazakh people, both in China and in Kazakhstan, to have the opportunity to hear the gos- pel. Pray for God to reveal to them that He is their maker, and they can belong to His family. Ask the Lord to send more missionaries to tell the Kazakhs the story of His love in Christ.—CL

70 Day 20 Youngbei Zhuang People Psalms 119: 162

en Yu picked up his drumsticks and started I rejoice in Your promise like to vigorously hit his beautiful bronze Zhuang W one who fi nds great spoil. drum given to him by his father. Th e drum was decorated with many birds, frogs, toads, and some Grab a piece of paper and boats with fi sh jumping around them. He was proud write down a list of God’s to be a major part of the Ox Soul Festival. It was promises. He has given us honoring the Ox god who was deeply loved by his many precious promises, all Youngbei people. of which are far greater than Th e women and children were beautifully dressed great spoil. He has given us in their bright brocades. To the rhythm of the life in the here and now, and drumbeats, they began to sing and dance around the oxen, which were adorned with fl owered garlands. the blessings of forgiveness All these rituals were done so the ox god would look of sin and eternal fellowship favorably on them and give them a good harvest. with Him. What wonderful Th e Zhuang drum is a true refl ection of the spiritual promises for us to enjoy! beliefs of the Youngbei people who are strong To those who don’t know followers of ancestral and spirit worship. Farming is Him, however, He off ers the basic livelihood of these people, and their oxen eternal separation without are faithfully cared for and honored. Th ere are only a forgiveness. Are we willing few Youngbei who know the biblical God because of to take His promises to those missionaries who witnessed to them in the past. who don’t know of them?

Pray that the Youngbei Zhuang will soon get to hear about Pray for His promises to God’s truth, love, and the glory of His sacrifi ce in Jesus. reach the Youngbei Zhuang Pray that God will bring His servants as witnesses of His this month. Pray that His word in ways that they will understand and accept. Pray promises will be understood that radio programs, fi lms, and new communication tools by the nations as far greater will lead these people to the Lord.—PD than any spoil this world has to off er.

71 Day 21 Psalms 141: 2 Zoujiang Zhuang

tanding on the May my prayer be set edge of some before You like incense; may S steep cliff s located the lifting up of my hands in central Guangxi be like the evening sacrifi ce. Province, a guide Can you imagine that? Your was telling his tour prayers are like a fragrant group about some fascinating frescoes off ering to the Lord! This is carved into the wall our blessing to the Almighty of the cliff . “Th ese Creator! No matter how young painting are over or old you are, no matter how International Create 2,000 years old, and rich or poor you may be, your they tell us many things about the Zhuang. You prayers are a sweet fragrance see how they loved their animals, farming, dance, to the King of the Universe. and life. Look at that farm over there and you will see Zoujiang Zhuang women picking mangos and When the time is right, He singing just like these ladies in the paintings. I come will pour this sweet incense from a Han Chinese family, but my mother said that over the nations, and some of we had some Zhuang ancestors. I’m trying to trace them will turn to Him. If that this information because if we have Zhuang people doesn’t motivate you to pray, in our family, I can qualify as a minority, and the nothing will! government will help me with my college education.” Life is simple for the Zoujiang Zhuang, but being a Pray with new confi dence. minority has its advantages in China. Because they Pray that we may remember are farmers, the government lets them have more than what our prayers are to Him. one child to help them farm. After a history of past turmoil, the Zoujiang have a fairly peaceful life. Th ere is a deep concern among some Zoujiang people that they may lose their identity which is linked to their language. Zoujiang people are loyal to their gods and ancestors, though many have no spiritual beliefs.

Pray that God will open many doors so the Zoujiang Zhuang can come to know Him as their Lord and Savior.—PD

72 Day 22 Eastern Khampa (Kum-ba) People of China Psalms 12:8

t’s no wonder the Eastern And the words of the Lord Khampa people are I are fl awless like silver unreached—the Joshua refi ned in a furnace of clay, Project describes them as “hostile, violent,” and sexually purifi ed seven times. promiscuous. And yet they Have you ever doubted God’s are considered to be devout Word? Be honest, we all followers of Buddhism, have. But it’s wonderful to a religion that frowns Nei Mongol Yumen upon violence and sexual know that even those hard promiscuity. Regardless of to accept verses did not get Lanzhou these seeming contradictions, there by accident. By faith, they are precious in the sight we can accept them as His of the Lord. thoughts, and thank Him for Sichuan His truth. What about those Chengdu Who will go to them? About 1.5 million Eastern Khampa who do not have access to people live in the cold, barren mountains of western God’s Word? Don’t they have Sichuan Province, a large portion of eastern Tibet, a right to know what their and parts of southern Qinghai Province. According to Creator thinks? Shouldn’t they www.baptisttranslators.com, they once were nomads, have access to His fl awless but now they raise grain and cattle in the fertile valleys. Th ey have a long history of confl ict with the thoughts so they can give Him Han Chinese who annexed some of their territory thanks and praise? in the early 18th century. As late as the 1950s and 60s a group of Eastern Khampa fi ghters, “Buddha’s Pray for God to extend the Warriors,” fought against China’s occupation of Tibet work of groups like Wycliff e until their defeat in 1974 (www.aljazeera.com). Th eir Bible Translators that are heart language is Eastern Khampa, which has many trying to get His Word to every dialects, but is similar to Central Tibetan. Th e Bible tribe, tongue and nation. has been translated into Tibetan, but not into the Eastern Khampa language.

Pray for translators to begin the work of creating a Bible for this large people group. Pray for faithful prayer war- riors to help break up the hard ground of the Eastern Khampa people’s hearts. Pray for brave workers to dare to reach these people with the gospel of peace.—JWS

73 Day 23 Psalms 57: 9 Northern Dong People of China

n earlier times church bells summoned the faithful I will praise You, O Lord, to prayer. Today in China the drum summons among the nations; I will sing I the Northern Dong. It may call them to take care of of You among the peoples. an emergency or to celebrate a wedding or another One of the most successful community aff air. Young people court each other in missionary eff orts came song at the village drum tower. from St. Patrick and his Formerly known as the Yue, the Northern Dong English Celtic missionaries speak a diff erent language than the Southern Dong. who went to Ireland. They Th ey are more likely to speak Mandarin Chinese as well as their own language. Indeed, many speak only didn’t preach the gospel, Mandarin, a language in which the Bible and Th e they sang it! From castle to JESUS Film are available. However, neither the fi lm castle, village to village, these nor the Bible nor any gospel recording is available in missionaries praised the Lord their native language. and drove “the Snake” out of Like the Southern Dong, the Northern Dong are Ireland. After 15 years all but animists, seeing spirits in inanimate objects. Like the Ireland’s southern regions ancient Romans, they also have a god of the hearth. were completely reached. This Increasingly, however, the younger generation is new church fanned out, fi rst without any religion. Th is fact makes them relatively into the forests of Ireland, open to the gospel. Yet it requires an oral approach to then into continental Europe reach them with God’s Word because the Dong lack literacy. Indeed, they lack a script for their language. to sing His praises. Worship So it is surprising and remarkable that more than 600 is a powerful force in today’s of them are believers. world. It ushers us into His presence and empowers us to Pray that the Northern Dong will accept Roman script, do His work. and that the Bible will be translated into their language and made available in oral and written forms. Pray for Pray for worshipping Chinese churches to adopt the Northern Dong for evangeli- missionaries to go to the zation and discipleship.—TP unreached parts of East Asia and the uttermost parts of the world where His Word is not known.

74 Day 24 Guibei Zhuang Psalms 66:16

ing wanted to throw her exquisite silk ball Come and listen, all you who at Wang so he would know she loved him. Y fear God; let me tell you Suddenly he came into sight. When the ball came what He has done for me. towards him, he caught it, laughed, and started to chase the giggling girl. There are many ways to Th is was a special day for all young people falling in communicate the gospel. love. It was the Zhuang Singing Festival. As they Yesterday we discussed the paraded through their village, some of the young power of music and worship women carried statues of Sister Liu, the goddess in reaching the unreached. of song, hoping she would bring them a husband. But today we come across Competition was everywhere, as diff erent groups tried to out sing one other. Laughing, warmth, an exhortation to give your and generous portions of food contributed to the testimony. Anyone can tell atmosphere. When visitors come, they are treated with others of what God has done honor and warm hospitality. for them. And He has done so Traditions remain important to the Guibei Zhuang much! Where do you begin? people, and their talents have become recognized in When do you begin? How other parts of China. In the last few years they have about today? benefi ted in many ways from government-sponsored infrastructure such as better roads, education, and Pray that many thousands will medical facilities. Th e Guibei want to maintain their give their testimonies to the identity through their culture and language. Th ere are unreached peoples this very only a few Guibei who profess to follow Christ. year. Pray that God will give the Muslims, Buddhists, and Pray that these believers will be guided by God to reach out Hindus ears to hear when His to the others around them. Pray that the Guibei Zhuang children give their testimonies. people will receive the Lord and may sing praises to Him for all He has given to mankind, including the sacrifi ce of His son, Jesus!—PD

75 Day 25 Psalm 121: 1-2 Pingdi (Ping-dee) People

he morning mist lifted I lift up my eyes to the to reveal the spectacular hills—where does my help T sight; steep mountainsides come from? My help comes were terraced and each level from the Lord, the maker of was fl ooded with water that heaven and earth. trickled to the terrace below. Throughout human history A Pingdi farmer was gently planting the rice seedlings people have fl ed to the hills to Hattaway in the fi elds along the A Pingdi cute person evade oppressive neighbors. serpentine mountain road It’s tragic but true, but people that seemed to wind to the very summit of the tall often need the protection of towering mountain, still covered by the ever-rising a high fortress. In the case mist. of the Pingdi people, the Another farmer sat listlessly in front of his house. high fortress may not always Alternating between vacantly staring at the distant protect them from those horizon and looking at the photographs on his lap, he who steal their children for told the news reporter that he loves his little daughter personal gain. But where does and she was never abandoned. He went on to detail their help really come from? the abuses of China’s one-child policy. Under the guise of enforcing the policy to limit population Pray that the Pingdi people growth, authorities take children from their homes will fi nd their help from the to orphanages. Later families in places like the U.S. Lord, the maker of heaven adopt them, according to a May 16, 2011 article in and earth. CBC News. In the past the Pingdi people of China were forced to migrate to remote mountainous regions. In the process they were splintered and became a small group that to this day remains isolated. Th e Pingdi people have many religious legends and stories that could serve as a gateway to the gospel. Th ey do not have any Christian resources, so few if any know about these possible bridges.

Pray that Pingdi families hurt by the trauma of separa- tion from their children are healed through the love of Christ Jesus. Pray that God would raise up His ambassa- dors to go them.—EJD 76 Day 26 Liujiang Zhuang People in China Psalms 119: 36-37

oshua, look at this! “ Turn my heart toward Your eBay has a Zhuang J statutes and not toward shaman mask on sale for selfi sh gain. Turn my eyes $600, and it’s just like the one you bought in China.” away from worthless Curious, Joshua asked things…. Hong Kong what it said, “Th is is an As a follower of Christ you extremely rare and highly know that His kingdom is unusual antique shaman Sichuan Jiangxi mask hand carved by the all that really matters. Most Hunan people settle for less than an Guizhou Zhuang people, a Chinese ethnic minority who live eternal relationship with the Yunnan Guangxi Guangdong in Guangxi Province. Th e One who gives life. Secularists Hong VIET. Kong Zhuang people practice an settle for selfi sh gain that will LAOS Hainan animistic and ancestral form last for their lifetime, and if we of religion. A mask like this are not careful, we can easily is used in religious rituals do the same. The unreached and festivals such as the devil festival.” peoples settle for worshipping Joshua commented, “Th ey have their facts right. Th is what is far less than the is an important ritual for the Zhuang. Th e women Lord of Lords. But we know sew decorative clothes in bright colors that are used by those who off er food sacrifi ces to the ancestors. Th e that eternity is at stake here. family I was with had jars of pickled watermelon rinds Eternity! That gives us good for their deceased grandparents. Th ey are so happy on reason to pray for the lost who this day because they believe the devil and evil spirits have never had a chance to are appeased with the good things given to them.” hear the gospel. Living high in the beautiful Guangxi mountains, most Pray that the nations will Liujiang Zhuangs desire to be left alone to follow seek out His statutes and their traditions, speak their language, and enjoy their eternal fellowship with peaceful lives which they fear are only disturbed when Christ instead of selfi sh gain ancestors or evil spirits threaten them. and other worthless things. Pray that strong Han Chinese believers will be a witness to the Liujiang Zhuang. Pray that the Liujiang will no longer fear spirits, but will accept the protection and salva- tion of the Lord of lords.—PD

77 Day 27 Psalms 9:11 Western Ghao-Xong (Gaow-Shong) People

lory to the Father in Heaven for 4,000 Sing praises to the Lord, believers among the Ghao-Xong of China! It is enthroned in Zion; proclaim G a miracle that they heard the gospel at all since their among the nations what He language is diff erent from that of any other Miao has done. people, and their villages are in virtually inaccessible The shout of praise from Psalm mountains. Th ey have no Scripture in their language, 9 follows the declaration no JESUS Film, or gospel recordings. How then are the rest of this people group going to hear the Word that God reigns forever. He of God and believe? will govern all peoples with justice. David continues in Beautiful in God’s garden of ethnic groups are the nearly 1,500,000 Ghao-Xong people. Th ey are verse 15, “The Lord is known unique in many ways—in language, dress, and by His justice.” We shall then customs. One custom is to honor the two brothers in see before God’s throne an their history who fi nally began an uprising that freed innumerable throng from them from years of oppression. Th ey joyfully dance every nation, tribe, people, and sing in an annual festival to them. But how sad and language (Revelation 7:9). to hear that they believe themselves to come from Can you picture this? Maybe a dragon-dog whom they worship and honor as the forefather of their race. not, but we know that it will happen, and it will bring glory Th e Catholic missionaries who fi rst went to them to our Creator. were stalled in their eff orts by an inability to speak the language. Th e Protestants largely neglected the Thank the Father for who Ghao-Xong until around 1950. Eighty-three percent He is, and for what He will of the people have never even heard the gospel. do to redeem the nations. Pray for courage to do your Let us pray for the tiny speck of believers who live in a sea part in hastening the day of Ghao-Xong animists; pray that they might be so fi lled when there will be some with the Holy Spirit that their love of God spreads like from the Ghao-Xong nation a wildfi re among the Ghao-Xong people. Pray that God worshipping our Great King. will call workers to learn the language and take the gospel to these precious, isolated people.—PE

78 Day 28 Shengzha Nosu People Psalms 71:19b

nspeakable violence Who, O God, is like You? U forms the history of the Shengzha Nosu. Raiding Can anyone honestly say other villages for slaves to that he created a galaxy? do their work was their way Absolutely not! No one is of life for centuries. But in like the Lord! But mankind the 1940s Chinese soldiers is constantly trying to shrink cracked down in a horrifi c the Lord and put Him on

Hattaway way by removing the heads The Nosu people are much of Nosu troublemakers and the same god shelf as a more peaceful now. carrying them in bags for common spirit being. In other Nosu to see. Th e Nosu responded by killing the interest of political 10 Chinese soldiers for every Nosu killed, but the correctness, Westerners Chinese fi nally prevailed. refuse to acknowledge that Today there are seven Nosu subgroups, and the Christ is far above all others. Shengzhas live among them. More than a million Members of unreached Shengzha Nosu worship a supreme spirit named Mo’m people groups have been Apu. After 100 years of grueling missionary work and deceived into worshipping much prayer there was a breakthrough in 1996 when 18 spirits that cannot help them. Nosu cult leaders heard and believed the gospel. After renouncing the cult, the gospel spread, and within a To not acknowledge His year more than 12,000 Shengzha Nosu had been led to superiority over all others is to faith in Christ, according to the Joshua Project. lie. Worship today, this unique and all-powerful God! Let us pray that these believers may shine with the love of the Lord and reach out to family and neighbors in a sensi- Pray that the unreached tive but powerful way. Pray that the Holy Spirit would nations will soon know that remove the veil of disbelief from the unbelieving Nosu so the real Creator exists, and that they can live peacefully and abundantly under the the gods that they worship faithful care of the Prince of Peace. Th e Lord has responded are worthless. to urgent prayer in the past with a breakthrough. Let’s ask together for another even mightier advance of the gospel among the Nosu people!—PE

79 Day 29 Psalms 65:2, 5, 8 Lu Mien

mi, his wife, Alile, and their two young O You who hear prayer, to children sat around eagerly waiting to hear the You all men will come… U gospel radio program. Th e clock struck 8:00 p.m. as the hope of all the ends of the broadcaster’s voice crackled through the small the earth…. Those living transistor radio on the table. He narrated the gospel far away fear Your wonders. account of Christ feeding the 5,000 in the Lu Mien If these words were not in language. Th ey nodded in unison as the voice on the airwaves said, “God is able to meet all our needs, the Scriptures, we would no matter how great or small they may be.” After scarcely believe them. Do the that short time of devotion the father turned off peoples in the ends of the the transistor and prayed with his family before the earth hope there is a true and children went to bed. Later, he and his wife joyfully living God? Do they wonder remembered the day that they stumbled upon the who He is and where He is? Christian radio station FEBC that changed their lives. Some missionaries have found Th e Lu Mien people of China have long been people groups with hearts oppressed, and in years long past they were forced to ready to accept Christ when constantly move. In spite of being isolated, they have they fi rst hear the gospel. an extensive written language. These missionaries have been Most Lu Mien people are Daoists. Daoism is a amazed to discover that, even philosophy and system of religion in China based on in the darkness of bondage to the teachings of Lao-tzu in the sixth century B.C. Satan, some people groups However the Lu Mien do have Christian literature and radio broadcasts in their language. have so longed to know God the Creator that for many Pray that these resources will be heard and embraced by generations they have cried the Lu Mien people, resulting in transformed communi- out to Him, pleading for a ties. Pray for spiritual strength for the small group of Lu messenger to enlighten them! Mien believers so that they can faithfully serve their Lord and Savior.—EJD Thank the Lord that He is the only hope and inspiration for all the nations. Thank Him that there are ways like radio broadcasts to speed the day when His Word will be available to those “far away.”

80 Day 30 Shaozhou (Shaow-joe) Han Chinese Psalms 150: 6

hen outsiders think of the Chinese, they mostly Let everything that has think of the Han people, the predominant W breath praise the Lord. majority of the population. But China is also composed of many minority tribal peoples with their Praise the Lord. own distinct cultures and languages. Probably few Thus, concludes the Psalms, people realize that even the Han majority includes the Bible’s worship guide. many sub-groups. Notice how it ends, not with a One of these is the Shaozhou people of northern call for an individual to praise Guangdong, a province on China’s southeastern Him. Nor does it end with corner. Th ese approximately 930,000 people speak the call for a congregation Shaozhou Tuhua, their own separate language. Th is area has long been a crossroads for migrating people to worship His mighty Name. and has infl uenced the Shaozhou Chinese, resulting in No, it ends with a call for their language being distinct from other Han groups. everything that has breath Perhaps because of the many cultural infl uences they to praise Him. In ending have experienced over the centuries, the Shaozhou see this powerful part of the the need to retain their distinct identity. Th eir history Bible, you are left with the and heritage includes the bloody Boxer Rebellion knowledge that we are part in 1900 when the Chinese, outraged by foreign of something far bigger than domination at its ports, rebelled, killing hundreds of we can possibly fathom: a call missionaries and 32,000 Chinese Christians. Th at for everyone, including some was a dark day for China and the missionary eff ort, from the unreached nations but a new opportunity exists today for the spread of the gospel, not at the hands of Western missionaries, like the Shaozhou, to praise but from the growing church planting movements the Lord. spreading throughout the land by local peoples, both Han and ethnic minorities. Pray that the Lord will speed the day when everything that has breath will indeed Pray for a growing, dynamic church planting move- worship Him. ment to permeate the Shaozhou Han Chinese people and cause a positive spiritual transformation of their communities.—JS

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