Missionary Outlook for Immigrant Churches
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- 3 min read
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Bai Youcheng
President of the Christian Apostles Association
During the joyous and festive Lunar New Year, Chinese people always exchange auspicious greetings. This year's zodiac animal is the Dragon, so I wish everyone a happy Year of the Dragon and prosperous business! There's a saying in the Hokkien language: "好运拢总来 (ho wun long zong lai)," meaning good fortune will come to you all.
Food is of paramount importance to the people, so let's first talk about a delicacy whose name sounds like "dragon" in Chinese. The crayfish, listed as a harmful invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is cooked into a top-tier delicacy by the Chinese. The crayfish's characteristics—little meat, more shell, and the complex process of peeling it—make it an ideal food for friends and family to put down their phones and chat during gatherings, fostering closer relationships.
Another delicacy whose name sounds like "dragon" is the xiaolongbao (soup dumpling). Din Tai Fung's xiaolongbao are a household name in Taiwan. Their thin, even skin locks in the savory, juicy filling; the perfect eighteen pleats on the skin are a visual feast. The proper way to eat xiaolongbao: carefully pick up the heavy, soup-filled dumpling with chopsticks, place it on a spoon, peel off the skin with the chopsticks to let the soup flow into the spoon, then pick up some ginger slices, dip them in a little black vinegar, place them on the dumpling, and take a bite. The thin skin paired with the generous filling brings an indescribable feeling of happiness.
Whether it's the joyful atmosphere created by crayfish or the happiness brought by soup dumplings, for Chinese people, enjoying delicious food and family reunions during the Spring Festival represents a simple pursuit of abundance, prosperity, good weather, and national peace. We are all seeking a true and lasting sense of fulfillment and joy, and only in Jesus Christ can we find such abundant life.
There are many verses in the Bible about blessings, which we can meditate on during the Spring Festival and share with relatives and friends.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you! May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace!" This is the most beautiful blessing received by God's people. And this is also the beautiful vision that Chinese people hope to receive when they bless each other during the Spring Festival.
"Peace be with you!" These were the first words Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples after his resurrection. In this turbulent and broken world, we all seek peace, and true peace comes from Jehovah. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you."
"Put off the old self and put on the new self." Reject the sinful life of the past, renew your mind through the truth of the gospel, and show a righteous and holy way of life.
"You crown the years with grace, and your paths drip with abundance." The expectation of abundance year after year is temporary. The real benefit is not outside of God, but in Jesus Christ, whose grace far exceeds our imagination.
The 2024 Lunar New Year is approaching, and the dragon is about to make its return. May everyone embrace the new year, shedding the old and donning the new. May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
AAM colleagues: Olive, Sophie