Character or Reputation?
Sometimes we put reputation ahead of character. Sometimes, what people think about me has the greatest influence on my actions. We tend to emphasize reputation but we have no control over it. Jesus, perfect in every way, was of ‘no reputation’.
 
• Pray that Mekong workers will be guided by Jesus and not by the opinion of others.

• Pray that our ‘fear of God’ will be greater than our fear of man.

• Pray we will not be overcome by self-guilt or by self-righteousness but we will trust and obey our God.

Tai Yuan
After receiving the call to serve God cross culturally, Tee and Masse left their homes in the mountains to begin church planting in a Tai Yuan town. Coming from a minority group, Tee and Masse are looked down upon by the town’s people.  Despite the overt racism, Tee and Masse have a passion to share the good news of Christ with the Tai Yuan town’s people – their new neighbors.  After a year of performing mundane jobs for the town, Tee and Masse’s gentle spirit and servant heart has captured the town’s attention. The mayor made an announcement over the town loudspeaker that “they are good people, and here to help.  Welcome them into your homes.” Tee & Masse are hopeful to see a church planted in this town.

• Pray that God will continue to shine through Tee and Masee’s life. Pray for strength and perseverance in reaching out to people with a different culture and language.

• Pray that many Tai Yuan will decide to follow Jesus. Pray for a deep hunger for righteousness. Pray for a church planting movement among the Tai Yuan resulting in a group of worshipping Tai Yuan in every Tai Yuan community.

Find out how God answers your prayers for the Tai Yuan at the Mekong web page: www.infomekong.com

Vietnamese (Kinh)
Le Quoc Viet, a young Vietnamese artist, depicts a royal gown, beautiful on the outside but decaying inside, critiquing the loss of basic ethics in the face of rapid advancement. Viet desires to be a better person. He has been described by art critics as a man ‘who has one foot firmly planted in age-old Buddhist practices, while the other is searching for traction amongst the rapid waves of change that characterize modernity’.

At a recent exhibition, Viet collaborated with Kama Wangdi of Bhutan to create the contemporary ‘Prayer Wheel of Hope’. In Bhutan, the turning of a prayer wheel releases prayers into the universe, not for individual gain, but for the benefit of everyone and everything. Viet’s style of honest, reflective Buddhism is appealing for his peers.

• Plead with the Lord that young Vietnamese will not be merely introduced to Christian forms but have the chance to be enthralled by meeting Jesus himself. May they find in Him satisfaction and security.

• The concept of the Prayer Wheel is so beautiful. Yet prayers with nobody to hear are ultimately futile. Cry out to God, who can open eyes to acknowledge past futility, and bring people to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’. Residents in Bai Giua, a floating village along Hanoi’s Red River, are referred to as ‘garbage’ or ‘thieves’ by Hanoi’s more respectable folk. Seven children who live there have now filmed a documentary about their lives, choosing the title ‘Green Meadows’ to reflect their own view of the little community and sense of hope for the future.

• Pray that these children would be found by their Good Shepherd, for whom every lamb is precious, and who longs to lead them to green pastures.

• These kids, aged 10-14, currently attend a school for disadvantaged children, but the need to earn money for their families could stop this at any time.

Sign up to receive regular email Vietnamese (Kinh) prayer updates at prayernews@pray4vn.com