We've heard of a study that consisted of interviews with Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) that listed the top reasons why Muslims come to faith in Christ. First of all, most of the MBBs interviewed explained that they heard the Gospel in parts or in whole something like 45 times before they received. And what were the main influences that drew them, led them to be willing to consider Christ?
The love of Christians they knew and dreams of Jesus were the top two (I think, just going on memory here.)
Here is a web site (click for link) where you can see video clips of 5 MBBs who came to Christ after having a dream of Jesus. (Excellent videos!)
We long to see the Lord use whatever means he sees fit to draw these Uyghur friends to himself for salvation, and we know that he will always work in accordance with His Word. We know that the Lord clearly does use dreams and visions in scripture to reveal himself or his will to his people.
Recently, my husband got a call from a guy across town who has been sharing Christ with a Uyghur guy he knows. This friend called to tell my hubby that this young Uyghur guy, TN, who has shown lots of interest in Christ mixed with lots of fear and hesitancy and incomplete understanding, TN had a dream about our friend and houseguest, N. TN's dream was that N was very hungry to know more about Jesus.
N just moved out of our house yesterday morning and we didn't see all that TN dreamed of, but we would still love to!
Please pray with us for N to be drawn to Christ. Ask that the Lord would reveal himself in whatever powerful, tender, true way he wants to, to cause N to see the "light of the glory of the gospel of Christ." Apart from the Holy Spirit opening his eyes, he is dead in his sins and blind to Christ's light. Pray that the Lord would graciously intervene and give him life and faith in Christ!
Ask for TN, who has just returned to the Uyghur province, to be drawn to Christ with clarity and strength. Ask that the Lord would give him courage to believe, even though it will mean opposition and persecution for him. Pray for strong, supportive Uyghur Christian fellowship for him.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
worthy
Oh to live with peace and glad confidence that what I am spending my breath, my days, myself on is worthy, eternally worthy.
"... the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:8-10
"... the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:8-10
Sunday, February 20, 2011
new semester
The past several weeks have been a semester break (mid Jan- end of Feb) for Chinese New Year. Uyghurs don't celebrate CNY but most of our student friends are still eager to return to see their families for the break. My two tutors will return in the next few days and we will hopefully soon get time to catch up... hear about their time off and show off my much-larger-now belly.
Would you please pray for M and G to be drawn to Christ as we visit together, talk about families, eat baked goodies and watch our kids play? Pray that the Holy Spirit would open wide doors for proclaiming Christ to these ladies, neither of whom has previously expressed much interest to hear. Ask that they would leave our times together made thirsty by the salt of the Gospel, that they would hopefully see evidenced, and hear spoken of in our home.
This weekend, the guy who has been tutoring my husband most consistently for the past 6 months is moving back to the Uyghur province to start working. Pray that this friend, M, would not be able to escape all that he has heard of Christ. Pray that the Lord would conquer his fears and prejudices against Christ/ Christians and would not let him rest until he comes to Jesus for forgiveness, life, salvation. Ask that M would meet other Christians in Xin Jiang- even though there are sooo few.
Finally, would you ask for a good new tutor for my husband and a good new study arrangement for me as we transition through a maternity leave season soon. We both are hungry to advance in our Uyghur language skills... looking ahead to spending the summer in Uyghur territory (Xin Jiang).
Would you please pray for M and G to be drawn to Christ as we visit together, talk about families, eat baked goodies and watch our kids play? Pray that the Holy Spirit would open wide doors for proclaiming Christ to these ladies, neither of whom has previously expressed much interest to hear. Ask that they would leave our times together made thirsty by the salt of the Gospel, that they would hopefully see evidenced, and hear spoken of in our home.
This weekend, the guy who has been tutoring my husband most consistently for the past 6 months is moving back to the Uyghur province to start working. Pray that this friend, M, would not be able to escape all that he has heard of Christ. Pray that the Lord would conquer his fears and prejudices against Christ/ Christians and would not let him rest until he comes to Jesus for forgiveness, life, salvation. Ask that M would meet other Christians in Xin Jiang- even though there are sooo few.
Finally, would you ask for a good new tutor for my husband and a good new study arrangement for me as we transition through a maternity leave season soon. We both are hungry to advance in our Uyghur language skills... looking ahead to spending the summer in Uyghur territory (Xin Jiang).
Thursday, February 3, 2011
gender issues
Uyghur women are the cooks and the cleaners in the home. Very often extended families live together to cover responsibilities and just as homes are filled with people, they are often filled with strife.
Harsh relationships between mothers and daughters in law are very common as is domestic violence and child abuse, which usually go unreported and unpunished. (For the most part, abuse in the home is not viewed as a criminal matter in China- for the majority or minority peoples.)
Since N has stayed in our home for the past few weeks, I've felt a bit of the weight of some Uyghur gender issues. The nearest local grocery carries mainly just raw ingredients- produce, flour, oil, eggs- and although we can get some wonderful items to add to this (butter, cheese, pasta and a few more goodies) at another store in town, most every meal is a labor intensive afternoon, and most every snack is home-baked. I'm pregnant, caring for our big kids, and hosting this guest till one month before my due date. And although I'm super blessed to have some local help it's not the same as living with family that can co-host every guest that crosses our doorway.
In our home, I'm not an unappreciated slave in the kitchen. My man helps me kindly and generously. I think his love for me is clearly shown and I know it is gratefully received.... but these demonstrations and understandings are American. I don't know how N. perceives these things. Does he see Matt as a humble servant (like he is) or like an idiot husband who is doing his wife's work?
Would you pray that he would see the grace and love of God displayed in our marriage? Ask for grace for us to serve each other with patience and joy, and to submit to one another humbly, lovingly, scripturally. Ask for help for N to understand that a wife submitting herself to her husband as unto the Lord, and a husband leading as a servant, is a beautiful blessing for a home and family.
Harsh relationships between mothers and daughters in law are very common as is domestic violence and child abuse, which usually go unreported and unpunished. (For the most part, abuse in the home is not viewed as a criminal matter in China- for the majority or minority peoples.)
Since N has stayed in our home for the past few weeks, I've felt a bit of the weight of some Uyghur gender issues. The nearest local grocery carries mainly just raw ingredients- produce, flour, oil, eggs- and although we can get some wonderful items to add to this (butter, cheese, pasta and a few more goodies) at another store in town, most every meal is a labor intensive afternoon, and most every snack is home-baked. I'm pregnant, caring for our big kids, and hosting this guest till one month before my due date. And although I'm super blessed to have some local help it's not the same as living with family that can co-host every guest that crosses our doorway.
In our home, I'm not an unappreciated slave in the kitchen. My man helps me kindly and generously. I think his love for me is clearly shown and I know it is gratefully received.... but these demonstrations and understandings are American. I don't know how N. perceives these things. Does he see Matt as a humble servant (like he is) or like an idiot husband who is doing his wife's work?
Would you pray that he would see the grace and love of God displayed in our marriage? Ask for grace for us to serve each other with patience and joy, and to submit to one another humbly, lovingly, scripturally. Ask for help for N to understand that a wife submitting herself to her husband as unto the Lord, and a husband leading as a servant, is a beautiful blessing for a home and family.
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