When Mi Qiang arrived at my house one morning unannounced, I knew we had become friends instead of merely acquaintances. After catching up with our family, he invited us to his house to celebrate Chinese New Year with his family later that week. We were so excited to finally have a friend in the people group we were are living among.
As I talked to Mi Qiang during the celebration, I asked if all the Muslims in China celebrate Chinese New Year. He said that Muslims in the eastern part of China are different than those in the western part. “In the East, we are not as devout as Muslims in the West. For example, when my dad died, we had the Imam from the local mosque over to our house, but only because as Hui we are supposed to.” In the West, Mi Qiang said, people do these religious things because they really believe them.
When I asked him how his dad died, Mi Qiang became more soft spoken. Muslim men are under a lot of pressure, he said. Many women do not work and so the man must be the sole provider. If the man is unable to provide for his family, it is very shameful. So shameful that some men even end their lives. Mi Qiang said, “My dad was stressed. That is the reason he died.”
Peace. This is what Mi Qiang is looking for.
On Christmas Eve, Mi Qiang came to our front door with a basket full of apples. In China, apples are a common Christmas gift because the words for apple and Christmas Eve both have the character that represents peace. That evening I was able to share with Mi Qiang where true peace comes from. The Imam will not bring peace. Nothing this world offers will bring peace. Only in Jesus can we have true peace.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray that the peace of God will fall upon Muslims in both the eastern and western parts of China.
- Pray that the veil of sin that covers the eyes of Chinese Muslims would be removed so that they may receive Jesus.