Claiming the Year For Christ

This is the "Year of the Rat" according to China's ancient calendar that recycles zodiac signs over a 12-year cycle. Not only has it resulted in a run on hamsters at pet stores in China, but it's all about "carpe diem" for Mickey Mouse who is sporting Chinese garb at Hong Kong's Disneyland. Let's pray fervently that long before 2008 ends, it will be know as a "Year of Christ" in China as millions of people accept the salvation that He freely offers.

• Hong Kong now has 1.5 mobile phones per resident!

• For the first time since 1949, passenger ship travelers from China disembarked in Taiwan.

Frigid Weather Greets Chinese New Year

Havoc resulted when China's worst winter weather is 50 years coincided with its traditional Lunar New Year celebration. Millions of people trying desperately to return to their home towns for their most important holiday were confronted with closed airports, derailed trains, and highways frozen over with ice. Still they persisted, waiting at train stations and airports for days at a time, in the hopes of seeing their loved ones. As the crowds grew, troops were sent in to maintain order at transportation hubs. A stampede at the Guangzhou train station resulted in many injuries and the death of one woman. Harrowing tales were told by those stuck in cars, trains, and buses for 20 hours or more for trips that would normally last only a few hours.

The crisis that impacted 20 of China's provinces has since subsided, and most of China's residents are slowly returning to their places of residence and work. But the winter will long be remembered for nightmarish inconvenience, dashed dreams, and loss. An official mid-February estimate of 107 deaths is most likely conservative. More than 1.5 million people were evacuated from their homes and at least 350,000 homes collapsed under the weight of record snows. One-tenth of the country's massive forests suffered damage. Power lines were downed by snow and ice, resulting in the loss of electricity to millions, and pipes cracked in the freezing temperatures, resulting in the loss of water to millions more. Impassable roads resulted in a shortage of food supplies in many locations. Recovery is expected to take many more months.

Let's continue to pray for all who are suffering, asking God to supply their needs. Pray that Christians in China will be sensitive to special ways that His love can be shared during the aftermath of such devastation.

Winter Wonderland

As the cold weather raged, God poured out special blessings on His children, resulting in these inspiring reports from the front lines.

"When my flight got snowed in during the recent snowstorm, I was a bit frustrated that my agenda to travel to another country had been interrupted. But the snow that paralyzed my city for a few days and kept me stuck there was a means God used to remind me of some profound lessons. During those days of being "stuck," I met people, shared truth with families and had opportunities I would have otherwise missed if things had gone according to my plan. Praise God for working great things out of a challenging situation."

"During the coldest winter in the history of China, we learned that we really can survive without electricity, tap water, television, internet, and transportation. A big pot of vegetable soup shared with neighbors can put smiles on their faces and opened doors to tell them of His love. One dozen eggs, three pounds of rice, and three heads of cabbage will feed six Chinese families. Because we endured the cold and lack of conveniences along with our neighbors, a bond was formed. We became more aware of our weaknesses, and we found new strength in Him."

"Southern Cross Chinese New Year's 2008 distribution was a tremendous success with people coming to faith and over 10,000 Chinese tourists receiving their first copy of God's Word along with Gospel testimonies! With fewer volunteers on fewer teams than last year, He was able to equal the distribution! God answered our prayer that He would allow nothing to stand in the way of these dear people getting a copy of His Word, a Jesus Film and other Christian literature."

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