And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1 ESV)
The workers knew this Hui man was ready to trust in Jesus Christ and their hearts rejoiced! He had lapped up the truth as they had read and discussed the Bible with him. But suddenly a cloud of fear enveloped his heart and he thought, “What will my family do if I become a Christian?” The workers prayed against the fear that was gripping his heart and God’s peace released him to accept the great and glorious message of salvation through Jesus.
The Hui have a very strong corporate sense that to be Hui is to be part of the worldwide Muslim community. This serves as a great barrier to their trusting in Jesus as Savior. They might like what they hear and see of the gospel as it is lived out before them through the lives of Christians, but they fear losing their identity as part of the Muslim community that in China is their lifeline to success. The term “Hui” technically refers to their ethnic identity that cannot change even if their religion changes, but in their minds “Hui” is synonymous with “Muslim.” When the Hui are outside their community, studying at university for example, they more readily accept the gospel, but they tend to adapt culturally to Chinese believers and become insensitive to their own people, not knowing how to share their new faith in a culturally sensitive way with their families. Hui believers who return to their communities and share with them often find they bring shame on the family so they leave and go to other cities to work. As the Hui become Christians they face an identity crisis and it is vital that they establish their identity in Christ at that time.
Prayer Requests:
- In Jesus name tear down the lie that “Hui” equals “Muslim” and pray that He would establish all Hui believers as His children.
- Ask God to give the first believers in each community hope and faith to pray fervently for their families and friends to trust in Jesus for salvation.