February 9 is Chinese New Year, Vietnamese New Year, and Tai Dam New Year. For a majority of these people, it is a time when they honor the ancestor spirits of their family, and the time is filled with many superstitions and omens. It is a time when much alcohol flows and people don't do much but party and visit one another.

 

For the few Christians, this will present a time when they can worship their Great Ancestor, and give glory to God for the spiritual heritage they have begun in recent years.

 

One particular group was told to stop meeting, so their church began meeting on other days and times.  Then as Christmas drew near, they were told to not have any celebration.  They struggled with this, and decided to agree, but as an alternative have planned for a large celebration and time of teaching over this New Year.  It fits in well with the overall theme of honoring your ancestors, and also gives them some degree of safety!  Please pray that this will be a time of great encouragement, joy, and growth for these TD Christians.

Father, we pray that the Christians would be wise in what they do and don't do, when they are with family members.  We pray that they would be able to stand against the idolatry of spirit worship, but at the same time, be sensitive to the lineage which they do have.

We also pray, Lord Jesus, that you would be the one that people look to for blessing and guidance in this next year.  May Your Name quickly be upon their lips, as they seek to honor You. May You be seen as the One who is Sovereign, in control over all of creation (including the spirit realm).

 

We would also pray that many people would become frustrated with this long practiced tradition, as they see no fruit or blessing, and are left with only a fear of not doing enough.

 Thank you for praying for our trip to N.  This was a very special time sharing with the believers, as well as helping them in a few areas of future leadership development.  We had several hours of teaching and sharing, which was very encouraging to us all, and then we had a baptism with 3 adults.

 

One couple, who had believed a few months back, wanted to take this step of obedience, so we led them through it.  How encouraging it was to see man and wife growing together with Christ their Lord, as well as with each other.  May the God of all love bless many TD families with this special joy of seeing both father and mother coming to faith and obedience.