New Year, Feb 19, 2015

I am Chinese, but it took 28 years for that to take on a whole new meaning. I was living in Hong Kong in 1990 when there was a huge gathering in Hong Kong to commemorate the first anniversary of Tian An Men. I wanted to cut across the huge crowd to collect my dry cleaning. As I took in the scene before me I was suddenly hit by the belated realization that these are my people. "I am CHINESE!" Strong emotions came over me and it seemed like in that moment thousands of years of Chinese history became a part of me. I was from an ultra traditional Chinese family, but grew up in a very British- influenced culture and school in post-independent Malaysia. I suppose that can describe a lot of people today, but for me, I know it was an appointed wakeup call of the Lord. It was ordained. We are all ordained. We are where we are and doing what we do as ordained and positioned by our Lord.

About 4 years ago I started reading up on Chinese history in my free time. I can't give you a detailed summary of the history of China here. Perhaps a few quick historical facts:

□ With thousands of years of continuous history, China, or "Middle Kingdom" as it is called in Chinese, is one of the world's oldest civilizations. Its first dynasty was in 2070-1600 BC.

□ Much of Chinese culture, literature and philosophy existed before 1045 BC.  

□ Written records of its history can be found from as early as 1200BC.

□ There were 15 dynasties and states since the 1700BC. And since 1949 the "Middle Kingdom" has been known as the People's Republic of China.

□ During the Qing Dynasty, which was the last dynasty that ruled China for 267 years until 1911, it was a capital offence punishable by decapitation to leave the country. Yet starting in the late 1800s many left. That dynasty was coming to an end and political instability provided the great push for emigration.

□ Chinese people have a great awareness of God. But they embraced many counterfeits and integrated those teachings into their culture. The decades under communist rule forbade practice of religion and stopped the practices of idol and ancestral worship, but in the past decade with its economy outperforming most other nations, newfound wealth brought new lifestyles and new idols. There is also a noticeable return to the old ways, the old traditions.

□ The government sanctioned church in China is the 3 - Self Church. The three principles are self- governance, self-support ( financial independence) and self-propagation (indigenous missionary work). Yet it wasn't the Chinese, or communist government, who created the system, but a western missionary in the 1800s.

The dates are important to me. During my history and Bible classes in grade school I used to ponder the significance of the dates as they superimposed one upon another. Biblical and historical persons in those lessons lived about the same time. I used to wonder, "did they know God?" So as I prepared for the prayer hour for China and the Chinese people, I thought again if they knew God those thousands of years ago! Because I know God knew them.

Key prayer points for Chinese people scattered among the nations:

□ Pray for the church in China and the nations where Chinese people are settled. Pray that they be a blessing to the nations they call theirs.

□ Pray for the leaders to know the Father's heart. "If you love Me feed My sheep." They covert the prayers, support and encouragement of those who will draw alongside them. Whilst they are received by other local church leaders, they remain exclusively confined to pastoring Chinese congregations. They are frequently overworked and their resources overstretched. Like in Scandinavia, most pastors frequently travel to small house churches in the region. Pray that they are refreshed and receive a fresh anointing, a new wineskin.

□ Pray for the harvest - "... the fields are white with the harvest.." New immigrants need comfort and support. The church becomes the source of support and assistance for them and where they gather. Pray that these churches move beyond harvesting Chinese people to harvesting in all nations.

□ Pray for laborers ".. the laborers are few." - These churches and congregations are generally in need of help, support, resources and welcome those who are committed. Pray for the congregation to rise up to the call of God on their lives.

□ Pray for unity within the churches and with other churches.