【Asia】Reaching towards the unreached peoples

——Ethnic Minority Mission Center’s Path to Grace and Prospects

Sharing guidance/Hadul Tamabima, whose Chinese name is Jiang Guanming
Compiled and written by Weng Jingyu

The soul-stirring eight-part chorus of the Bunun people expressed the most sincere praise to God’s choice and the salvation of Christ in their mother tongue, kicking off the “Dong’yuan” Ethnic Minorities Mission and Prayer Night. This is a moment of gratitude for us Bunun people! The naturally good singing voice and the sonorous and powerful rhythm shook the entire venue, and my heart was even more excited...

I recall that in February 2013, in the cold late night, or to be precise, in the early morning, in the mountains of northern Vietnam, we were singing "Jesus Victory" while stepping up to avoid being pursued by the anti-Christian Vietnamese Communist Party government. It was the same. The melodious and high-pitched chorus!

Although the members of the ethnic minority missionary team include the Bunun, Ami, Atayal, Han, etc., and the number of people in the team may not be eight, we always naturally sing harmonious, melodious, and shocking choruses. Just like the praises of Paul and Silas in prison that moved heaven and earth, this midnight singing also brings the power of God to lead us safely away from the pursuers.

This is just an episode of missionary work among ethnic minorities in the past ten years. Although the process is difficult and dangerous, our hearts are satisfied; we see ethnic minority churches in northern Vietnam not afraid of persecution, meeting secretly in the middle of the night, longing for God, and would rather die for the Lord. We must courageously preach the gospel to our own people, and our hearts are even more fervent.

Chorus Part 1: Anxiety

During the "Dong'yuan" Missionary Prayer Night for Ethnic Minorities, the congregation sang "Crops in the Field", singing God's heart and also singing God's anxiety:
“The crops in the fields are ripe one by one, and there are no harvesters in sight.
The owner of the house was anxious, his anxiety was like a fire, and he could not find anyone with the same mind.
I see many workers who spend money and energy on themselves instead of loving God exclusively.
The Lord is crowded with people, but when the Lord is in need of no one, how can it not make the Lord sad?
Who cares about the Lord's heart, who cares about the Lord's heart,
Whoever is suitable for the Lord’s use makes the Lord’s heart happy. "

A passion welled up in my chest and couldn't be quelled! Ask the Lord to raise up more workers! Since the establishment of the "Ethnic Minority Mission Center" in the autumn of 2005, whether in China, Vietnam, India, Nepal, or even recently Myanmar and northern Vietnam, this is the prayer that the mission team and I have prayed from the bottom of our hearts, and it is also the disparity that we work hard to achieve. Image - "I believe that one day, God's children will jump for joy among the mountains and mountains, praising our Lord Jesus Christ."

Nearly ten years of arduous missionary work has been dripping with the fat of God’s grace. We started with the ethnic minorities in China and traveled over mountains and ridges to preach in various villages. From our experience, we found that the hearts of ethnic minorities are very simple. It is not that they refuse to hear the gospel, but that they have no chance to hear the gospel. Because few people are willing to go through all the hardships to come to the mountains where they live to preach the gospel.

How anxious would the Lord’s heart be when he saw the sheep all over the mountains and fields without shepherds, and even being devoured by evil ones, destroyed by enemies, and ravaged by poverty? We can only work harder to serve them, actively raise funds, deliver visions, and cry out for help to all churches!

▲ (Left) The soul-stirring worship and praise of the indigenous people kicked off the night of missionary prayer for the "original" ethnic minorities.
▲ (right) The author of this article, Hadur Damabima, is devoted to the missionary work of ethnic minorities and spares no effort.

Chorus Part 2: Risking Death

I still remember the night when the missionary team went to Dulong Village in Yunnan, China. They had to pass from the top of the mountain on one bank to the other bank, but there was only a dilapidated, towering and trembling long suspension bridge in front of them. Looking at the rushing water of the Nu River under the bridge, if they lost their footing, they would be shattered to pieces. However, what urged the missionary team to go on desperately was the figure of Jesus on the Stations of the Cross.

When the missionary team came to this village where the British missionary Fulengren set foot a hundred years ago, during the gathering, the local elders shed tears of gratitude and said, "The missionary I have been waiting for all my life is back. The church situation that I have been talking about for many years has finally come true!”

I still remember one time when the whole group and a dozen local co-workers had to take a small boat to rush to the meeting point. On the way, they suddenly got caught in the rapids and were about to hit a reef. However, a cry of "Lord!" actually saved them at the critical moment. Every now and then, I swim against the current and praise the salvation of the Lord Jesus’ powerful hands. We had to go. What was waiting for us was the ardent expectations of the ethnic minorities in the village and their deep hunger for God.

In the fall of 2012, the missionary team went to a leprosy village of an Indian ethnic minority (now known as "Hansei"). They were like "untouchables among the untouchables." Several seriously ill people had dull eyes and multiple amputations. , can only stay in the dark hut and wait for death. Before entering the leprosy village, the locals warned us repeatedly to "keep our distance." However, during the missionary process, God's great love, the Lord's mercy, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit overflowed throughout the venue. My fellow ministers and I When Pastor Jiancheng was praying for the lepers, God's love melted our hearts. Regardless of the risk of infection, we reached out and laid hands on them to pray. Other co-workers also followed suit and prayed, wanting only to spread the salvation and love of Jesus. The power of God is delivered to these dying patients at the bottom of despair. Thank you God for keeping us safe.

▲Going to a leprosy village in India where untouchables are infected (now known as "Han's disease") to preach. Regardless of the risk of infection, you must lay hands on the other party and pray.

Chorus Part 3: Inheritance

This is the purpose of organizing the "Evangelical Prayer Night for Ethnic Minorities". On the evening of April 26, 2013, a holy meeting was held at Xinshu Baptist Church in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. The chairman of the meeting was Pastor Chen Zhongxi of the Amis ethnic group, and there were more than 200 pastors from aboriginal churches in the north, The preacher, brothers and sisters, and several Western missionaries participated in the grand event. We hope to mobilize Taiwan’s aboriginal churches to actively engage in missionary work to ethnic minorities in mountainous areas across Asia.

In the past, we have actively trained Han co-workers to preach to them. We believe that the language expression skills and teaching gifts of Han co-workers are generally quite excellent. However, from actual service, we have found that compared to the Han co-workers, the Aboriginal co-workers have Preaching the gospel to ethnic minorities through "quasi-cultural missionary" methods is more effective.

Because the living environment, cultural background, and growth experience of Taiwan's aborigines are very similar to those of ethnic minorities in Asia, they can not only withstand the test of traveling long distances and crossing mountains, but they are also better able to adapt to the poor and backward primitive tribal environment of ethnic minorities and interact with them. Up, it resonates even more.

After the gospel spread in the villages, we also established a ministry school and selected suitable ethnic minority co-workers to become M2M missionaries (Minorities to Minorities, preaching the gospel from ethnic minorities to ethnic minorities).

Chorus Part 4: Revival

M2M is a missionary strategy used by Western missionaries to target the aboriginal people of Taiwan. According to the book "Pentecost of the Hills in Taiwan" (tentative translation of the book title) written by Ralph Covell, From 1926 to 1960, Western missionaries dedicated themselves to Taiwan one after another, and even buried themselves in the mountains of Taiwan. In these three to forty years, more than 50% indigenous people believed in the Lord, bringing about a wave of church revival in Taiwan.

In recent years, Taiwan's Han churches have also shouted that "the aborigines are the eldest sons of Taiwan" and have tried their best to restore and rebuild the self-identity and value of the aborigines. Since they have the noble status of the spiritual eldest sons, in addition to striving for revival, the aboriginal churches We should have a missionary mind and vision and become a blessing to all ethnic minorities. This is also a gospel debt that we must repay personally!

"Let's send aboriginal pastors as missionaries to preach in the aboriginal areas of Nanyang!" - Pastor James I. Dickson (1900-1967), an American missionary who was instrumental in cultivating aboriginal churches in Taiwan for forty years. I had seen this before, so in 1967, when I was sixty-six years old, Lillian R. Dickson (1901-1983) began to promote overseas ministry and led to the birth of the Burning Bush Mission. Eight aboriginal missionaries, including Quan Suozhe and Lin Jinyuan, were sent to bring the fruits of the revival of the Iban tribe in Sarawak, East Malaysia today. They were the first overseas missionaries to Taiwanese aborigines and the first missionaries sent by churches in Taiwan.(Note)

Chorus Part 5: Mercy

"What missionaries need most is not talents, gifts, or power, but a heart of compassion for souls."

"When you think about the countless people dying every minute and the miserable cries coming from hell, how can you not pass it on?"

When missionary Lin Jinyuan of the Amis ethnic group was missionary in Sarawak, East Malaysia, he once had to take a simple motor-powered boat to preach at a meeting point of the Iban people. The weather was bad at that time, and four flags had been hung at the harbor, which were warnings of the coming big waves. Thinking that God's work could not be hindered, he "quickly whipped the boat" and rushed to serve. God was protecting us on the way out, but unexpectedly the test came on the way back.

In the stormy sea, Lin Jinyuan was faced with the biggest wave he had ever seen in his life - he later learned that what he encountered was a tsunami! He shouted "Lord -" and was about to "ask the Lord to take me back to heaven" when an invisible hand lifted the boat up to the top of the three-story wave and then landed smoothly on the water.

Just when he was overjoyed, the second wave of tsunami was in front of him again. He shouted "Lord—" again, thinking, "I will definitely return to heaven this time." When the same miracle happened again! After meeting the "Lord who calmed the storm", his faith greatly increased and he preached the Lord's way even more boldly. He used this to encourage the congregation:
"Don't be afraid, just believe! The greatest gain from missionary work: first, the joy of harvesting crops for the Lord; second, the faith in God's presence that is refined in times of crisis!"

Chorus Part 6: Rebirth

Lin Jinyuan, a missionary from the Amis ethnic group, was the pastor who baptized me. During his pastorate, he often shared his missionary experience and gains. As a young man, I was influenced by this, and the seeds of missionary work were gradually planted in my heart.

I am from the Bunun ethnic group and have lived a very poor life since I was a child. My eight brothers and sisters had to work and study part-time to share the family income. My father was almost disabled in a car accident. The perpetrator escaped, and the huge medical expenses made it even worse for a poor family. The environment I grew up in was full of helplessness, disappointment, sadness, self-pity and despair. In the end, I almost got schizophrenia and wanted to commit suicide.

One Sunday morning, loneliness and melancholy enveloped me, and I turned on the TV. The content of the program deeply attracted me—it was an American evangelistic meeting broadcast in Taiwan. The preacher called the audience in front of the TV and heard, "Jesus said, Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." No one had ever told me this, and I immediately responded to the prayer. , accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord of my life.

After praying, a big stone was lifted from my heart, followed by a fountain of tears and unprecedented joy and peace. I was eighteen years old that year.

After believing in the Lord, I have received the Lord’s wonderful guidance in both church service and social work. In 1993, I already had a call from God, but because my interior design company’s business was booming and my attachment to the world, I was unwilling to obey.

At the end of 1994, I fell seriously ill due to my busy work schedule. I had a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius that would not go away. In addition, the doctor gave me the wrong injection, which caused a drug allergy. I had difficulty breathing and almost died. The members of the Lord mobilized to pray for me. During the rescue process, I made a vow to the Lord with all my heart: "Lord! If I still have a chance to step out of the hospital door, I will serve You seriously." Thanks to the Lord's mercy, a few days later I was discharged from the hospital safely.

Chorus Part 7: Calling

After half a year of praying with my wife (Si Meimei), and with the understanding of my relatives and friends, I ended my hard-working interior design company and went to the United States to seek and look up to God for guidance. It was not until I participated in the "Ninth Five-Year Chinese Mission Conference" held by the Association of Christian Messengers that I was inspired and called by the Holy Spirit to melt into the love of the Lord and surrender to Him.
In order to seek clearer confirmation, I called a spiritual elder, who also encouraged me with the example of Abraham’s faith in Hebrews 11:8-16: “You can also continue to do the work of the world, but There is no other work of more eternal value than preaching the gospel to save souls!” After hearing this, I can no longer escape the call of the Lord, and from now on I will look to God with faith and obey His leadership.

Whenever I was being equipped in seminary, the Lord placed upon my heart the burden of evangelizing minorities. Whenever I pray about this, tears always well up in my eyes. According to statistics, there are 14 ethnic groups of aborigines in Taiwan, with a population of more than 500,000, and more than 60% are Christians. But you know what? There are a total of fifty-five ethnic minorities in China, with a population of more than 100 million, but the vast majority of them are people who have not yet been reached by the gospel. So I knelt before God and wrote a prayer dedicated to missionary work for ethnic minorities:

Oh God! Give me a national heart,
A heart that loves ethnic minorities.
Oh God! If I don't have this intention,
The right hand is willing to forget its skills;
Oh God! If I don't preach, I would rather stick my tongue to the roof of my mouth.
Billions of souls are waiting for you and me to spread the word.

▲ (Left) Most of the Kachin people in Myanmar refugee camps are Christians, and they also receive materials and supplies from the ethnic minority missionary center. The picture shows the Bible being taught in a refugee camp seminary.
▲ (right) The peak of the gathering is the sacred moment to pass the torch! It is hoped that Western missionaries will light the holy fire of the gospel and spread it to ethnic minorities everywhere through Taiwanese aboriginal churches.

Chorus Part 8: Mission

The same is true for Pastor Si Jiancheng, the senior missionary of the "Minority Mission Center". He bravely accepted the mission, went to the mountains and seas, and was saved by the Lord several times at critical moments. This was all due to his mother's gratitude to Western missionaries for spreading the gospel to Taiwanese aborigines. , he was already dedicated to God when he was conceived.

Such a pastor who is full of the Lord's love and tenderness has long put life and death aside. He never misses any opportunity to preach the gospel. Even when he went deep into the "tiger's den" to preach the gospel to a Tibetan lama, he was suddenly chased by him with a knife. Even if he almost died, he would not flinch.

The climax of the "Dong'yuan" Missionary Prayer Night for Ethnic Minorities" is the sacred moment to pass on the holy flame! The holy fire of the gospel was lit by Western missionaries, then passed on by missionaries from ethnic minority groups, and finally passed on to the brothers and sisters by the pastors of Taiwanese aboriginal churches. At that time, many young people raised their hands and responded enthusiastically.

This is our most sincere hope. We hope that more new blood will join the missionary ranks. We hope that more aboriginal people will take action to take over the eldest son's birthright. We hope that more brothers and sisters will support the missionary work of ethnic minorities with prayers and donations. ! I hope that one day the gospel will be preached from minority areas to all races and peoples until the time when the Lord Jesus returns!

Note
1. Eight aboriginal pastors including Lin Jinyuan, Qing Qingxuan, Chen Rongfu, Wu Mingyi, Zhang Tiancheng, Li Xuesheng, Zeng Chuanhuo and Quan Suozhe.

Further reading
‧"Echoes from the Valley—The Beautiful Footprints of Ethnic Minority Evangelists", edited by Hadur Damabima.
‧Indigenous people—Reflections of Taiwan’s eldest son, Rumav, Christian Tribune, Issue 3327, October 12-14, 2011.
‧Reflections on the Succession of the Gospel for Ethnic Minorities, Rumav, Christian Tribune, Issue 3483, April 10-12, 2013.
‧Sending Love to Ethnic Minorities Quarterly, published by the Ethnic Minority Mission Center.

The quarterly magazine is available upon request. Tel: (408)732-7810, email: love@mfci.org

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