East Asia Update

Encouraging Responses
"The young shop owner sat out in front of her little store selling bottled water and Chinese dolls to the local village people walking by. She did not seem to be any different from all of the other local people until she was asked, "Are you a Christian?" With that question, her eyes lit up and she began to tell us of how not only she, but also her family and several other families in the village were also Christians. She explained that they had believed in Jesus several years earlier and that there are currently more than 50 believers in her small town. This is the kind of response we are beginning to hear as we scratch beneath the surface of the local areas where we serve." . . . by a frontline worker

Being at Home
"As we near the end of our first term overseas and begin preparations for going back to the States, we realize that we are not the same people (as before). We still look the same and enjoy the same American pleasures, but there is much more in who we now are. . . Our new friends live, not in American town houses and condominiums, but in Chinese shopping centers and antiquated mud houses. We eat beef burgers on Friday night and cold rice noodles on Saturday. We have grown accustomed to celebrating American independence on the 4th and the Dragon Boat Festival on the 5th. These and other newly adopted practices make us not new culture people, but bi-culture people." . . . by a frontline worker

Joy in the Midst of Despair
Shortly after the death of his wife in the Sichuan earthquake earlier this year, a Chinese man was introduced to Christ. After asking Jesus into his heart, he said, "For the first time in my life, I have joy." Another earthquake survivor received Christ into her heart after a volunteer worker who couldn't even speak the woman's language took time to fashion a Styrofoam cup into a cross. Since the woman had heard of Jesus previously, that simple act elicited her questions that, once answered by someone who could speak Chinese, led to her salvation. . . . based on frontline reports

Children of East Asia workers share some of their prayer requests below. Go to: http://easia.imb.org/ to read some additional requests.

Pray for all the people in the earthquakes. My family feels the tremors even though we are miles away. Thank you for praying for us. (10-year old)

Please pray for our people group. Many don't know Jesus. Not many people know about them or where they live. Even some Chinese people don't know. Also, please pray more people will come and help the people of our group. (9-year old)

Our dog is lost. Pray that he is safe. Pray that our Chinese friends will know Christ. Pray that my family (in the U.S.) will not be sad about my mom and brothers coming back to China. (7-year old)

One definition for "Summit" is "the topmost level attainable". That's what you can expect at the "Showcasing East Asia Summit". Mark your calendar with capital letters! FBC, Collierville, Tennessee is where you will want to be on April 15 to 17 to meet workers from East Asia, learn about the current situation, and explore how you can be involved from either side of the ocean. It will be followed by a Student Summit lasting from Friday night, April 17 through Saturday, April 18. http://easia.imb.org/summit/

Lottie Moon Resources

Christian workers in East Asia and throughout the world depend on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO). Go to: http://easia.imb.org to read some thank you notes from workers in East Asia.

Promote the LMCO in new and fresh ways this Christmas by ordering East Asia resources that will bring focus to Lottie's long-time home of China. Go to: http://easia.imb.org

Revving Up; Not Winding Down

Holiday times are not for winding down in East Asia; rather "tis the season" to embrace extra special opportunities to tell the lost about Christ. Please take some time this week to lift up those who are serving in China, Mongolia, and Taiwan, asking God to give them strength and enabling to entertain seekers and new believers in their homes, facilitate special outreach projects, host volunteer teams, distribute seasonal evangelistic materials, and impact East Asia friends, neighbors, and strangers for eternity. Pray that in the midst of all of the busyness, they will stay centered in Christ and joyous in their family life.

Numbers of Note


• 53,000 — Chinese babies sickened by tainted milk this fall.

• 470,000 — Tibetan herders to be settled in permanent houses.

• 09/27/08 — First time a Chinese astronaut walked in space.