“There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6

 

A foreigner was surprised to see a Christian calendar hanging on the wall of a small dumpling restaurant.  “Are you a Christian,” he asked.  The waitress replied, “I am not, but she is”, referring to the owner of the restaurant.

 

We praise God for the church among the Zhuang.  It's very small and unevenly distributed.  Most believers are found in the major cities.  There are some house churches scattered among a few villages.  It's hard to give a clear estimate of how many Zhuang Christians there are.  It was a pleasant surprise to find believers in areas where it was thought there were no Christians.

 

The overall percentage is still probably less than 1% of all Zhuang being believers.  The influence of cults and a lack of proper training also have weakened the church in some areas.  Please pray that the Lord would bring revival and vision to existing believers, so that they would carry the gospel to those who have not yet heard.  There are still many who have not yet heard the name of Jesus.

 

Praise:

• That more and more Zhuang are hearing about Jesus.
• For some Zhuang young people who have been called by God and have responded with willing hearts to serve Him.

Prayer:

• That God would provide financially for local workers through a good platform for those who have a vision to serve Him full-time.
• That all believers would be able to differentiate between false teaching and God's truth; that they would also keep the faith, even when faced with persecution.
• Pray for 3 local people who are being discipled so that they can then disciple others. They have a vision to plant new churches in the city.
• Recently one church has sent out local workers to another area.  This area of 800,000 people does not even have one church!  Pray that God would move among the people there, resulting in many coming to saving, reproducing faith.
• Pray for leadership training that will begin this summer in a new city.  Pray for wisdom in choosing a good location.  Pray for those who will be taking part.
• Pray for an upcoming meeting of like-minded foreigners focusing on the Zhuang.