Diaspora and Prejudice

Cities in Gansu contain neighborhoods and sections with high populations of Dongxiang people. Dongxiang people refer to these areas as Little Dongxiang. When Han people or even other Chinese Muslims look for apartments they intentionally avoid these Dongxiang areas. One Muslim woman from another people group was overheard saying, “Why would someone want to live in that area? That place is no good, there are too many Dongxiang living there, they are a bunch of barbarians, the dregs of society, so it is a dangerous place to live.”

Folk Islam

Yunus* once told Abram* that whenever his daughter was sick, they would take her to an Imam. He would dissolve portions of the Qur’an into a cup of water and let her drink this water as a medicine to heal her. Then Joseph* shared with him, “I am a follower of the prophet Jesus, and He has power to heal all of our sicknesses! We can directly ask God in Jesus’ name; we don’t need any mediator. Next time your daughter gets sick, call me and I will show you how to pray.”

Hunger for God

“It may be that some Muslims are following your Jesus, but it will never happen amongst the Dongxiang. We are traditional and will never relinquish Islam and Muhammad.” This was one of the most fervent declarations of Ayinsha,* a young entrepreneur.

He is risen! He is risen! He is risen indeed!

“Jesus did not die on the cross! Judas did!” Such was the emphatic statement of the father of new believer Abraham* as he rejected the notion that the great prophet Jesus could die such a gruesome death. Abraham’s parents have witnessed a distinct change in their son since he began following Jesus. The change appears to be good, but as they hear their son’s beliefs they cannot reconcile the incarnation and death of Jesus with their religious heritage, so they continue to reject the truth.

On God we have set our hope for Chinese Muslims, on God who raises the dead!

For over a century, followers of Jesus have planted their lives among Chinese Muslims and proclaimed the Gospel. Yet, today there are less than 1,000 followers of Jesus among the Hui, Salar and Dongxiang, and only a few small house churches. Praise God that today men and women and families from around the world (including Chinese believers) continue to intentionally live among Chinese Muslims and proclaim the Gospel. Praise God Chinese Muslims are hearing the Gospel and some are believing.

Why the Hui, Salar and Dongxiang?

Today in China, three people groups — the Hui, Salar, and Dongxiang — share a common characteristic distinct from the rest of China: they are Muslim. Though they trace different ancestry, speak different languages and often look like different ethnicities, they all carry the same weight of being minorities in their own country.

Moreover, these peoples also share another trait: they have been all but forgotten by the rest of society.

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