Birth of a Church
A praying church in the United States. A prayerwalking team. Dedicated long-term workers with cultural understanding. The work of the Holy Spirit. And a church was born.
A couple of years ago a California church “adopted” the Hmong. It was an intentional decision to support Hmong ministry and to pray that the gospel would penetrate this people group most of whom have never heard of Jesus.
In early summer the church sent a team to pray on site in Asia. One night they visited a Hmong village—a bit of a cultural “stretch.” Yet they delighted in the hospitality of the villagers who danced for them and shared their lives.
Given an opportunity to share in response, the team leader told the villagers that there was a Creator God who had not forgotten them. In fact, he said, many around the world knew about them and prayed for them. After he had shared the basics of God’s story with the group, one villager said he wanted to believe.
Knowing that the Hmong most often make important decisions as a group rather than as individuals, the leader prayed but also advised the man: “Don’t believe now. Talk with your brothers and uncles and decide together.” The worker also recognized that if several decided to become Christians together, there would be strength which an isolated Christian ostracized by family would not have.
And the prayer team and leader—now back in the United States—continued to pray for this village which had never before heard God’s good news.
The first meeting of a new church began in this village just a few weeks ago.
Pray:
- Father, we rejoice in the birth of this new church. Strengthen our new brothers and sisters in Christ. Make the change in their lives so evident that others in the village will choose to follow You.
- You know the desperate need for workers to reach the millions of Hmong who still have never even heard Your name. Call forth people to go and tell of You.
- Burden others to support those who are ready to go but lack sufficient financial support. Please, Father, hasten the time when they will be able to get back to Asia.
- Prevent anything which would disrupt leadership training scheduled this month. Protect teachers and students as they travel; keep them in health; prevent interference of antagonistic authorities. Bless their time together so that they leave not just with new “head knowledge” but with a powerful new vision and anointing for their ministry.
