After praying last time for the Dong churches that do not seem to be growing spiritually, it is most fitting that the possible causes of that lack of growth also be discussed and prayed through. Why are they not growing? What can be done to help them grow?

To some extent, the lack of growth is a matter of the Dong Christians themselves not exercising their faith. They could do more, yes, but the example set before them by non-Dong Christians (Chinese and foreigners) is still a very important part to solving this problem.

It is a matter of cross cultural communication. The outsider communicates a message, but those words and actions together mean something different to a Dong person and the received message ends up quite different.

This is a continual process (or should be) on the part of the outsiders to communicate the Gospel in such a way that Dong people will understand that message as the Bible explains it. That is not easy and is a process full of continual challenges, but if not done, the Gospel will die out (just what we are now witnessing happen) because it was never communicated in the first place.

One example of this problem can be seen in answers to the question of how to bring about church growth. Ask a Dong Christian how to help other Dong brothers and sisters grow in Christ and see what the answer is. Inevitably, the answer will include "training." They ask to set up a "training center" to help lead others to Christ and help them to grow.

That model is straight from current Western practice. The Dong have gained the knowledge to hold training sessions, but evidentially not the importance of the Bible. The training sessions mean nothing by themselves, except that they can communicate the message of the Bible. And somewhere in the process, that message is not making it to the Dong.

These training sessions are not bad. By no means! The problem is many of these sessions just repeat the latest method to Dong people, instead of helping them interact with God and his word. Regardless of what is being said in the training sessions, the message the Dong people are receiving is the method of communication.

"Actions speak louder than words." Dong do not need to be told how to grow, rather shown how to grow.

These are very difficult things to do in another cultural context. Chinese and foreign Christians alike have difficulty communicating the message of the Gospel. All of us, as the Church praying for the Dong people, need to pray for our brothers and sisters trying to communicate the Gospel in a way the Dong people will understand.

• Jesus, you understand the Dong people fully. You know how to relate the life giving message to them in a way they will understand. Please continue to challenge the foreigners and Chinese who are trying to tell them your good news. Help them to question how everything is done so that it can be continually made better and more effective for your Kingdom.

Psalm 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.

Any work we propose to accomplish among the Dong will be in vain unless it is truly the work of God and not just human achievement. It is so easy for us to focus on numbers of people who come to Christ, which has a place in keeping us accountable to the mission given us, but we need to look instead to what the Lord is doing.

What house is God building among the Dong? Where is he building the church? Where can we take part? We need to constantly return to Christ and his will, and use that to evaluate what we are doing.

It is the Lord who accomplishes this work. That is not our excuse to sit back and do nothing. Far from it! It is only to say our priorities need to be set straight. We need to join in what he is doing instead of asking his blessing on what we want to do.

• Lord Jesus, we need your help in the many times we try to bring our own ideas and strategy before you and ask you to do it. You are already building your house, your church, among the Dong. You are already watching over it. We come to you to ask what it is you want us to do.What part do you want us to play in what you are doing in China among the Dong?