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Friday, January 24, 2014 To hear an mp3 recording of the PrayerLine, click here. http://media1.imbresources.org/files/193/19305/19305-106518.mp3 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16, HCSB) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer office, asking you to pray for those celebrating Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year or Tet holiday is the most important time of the year for the people of Vietnam. The first day of Tet is on January 31 this year, but the traditions and celebrations have already started and the official holiday will continue until February 5. Families come together during this time, and the successful observance of the holiday is seen as an indicator of the success of the coming year. Traditions center around acquiring luck, sacrificing to gods who are believed to have authority over the household, visiting temples, and sacrificing to ancestors. Chinese and Koreans are now saying, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the holiday vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Chinese New Year’s Day, families gather for an annual reunion dinner. It’s also traditional for every family to cleanse the house thoroughly, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “good fortune,” “happiness”, “wealth” or “longevity.” Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red envelopes. Churches and groups of believers throughout the city will be reaching out to their friends, family and co-workers, telling about the great gift of salvation in Jesus. Some will be taking the message of Christ home to towns and villages as they leave the city to reunite with family. * Please pray that family members will be receptive and not reject the message shared. * Intercede for those in Vietnam, China, and Korea who were first exposed to the Gospel through the Christmas season to recall the Good News and seek Jesus. * Ask God to strengthen believers that they will not be ashamed of the Gospel but proclaim God’s Word faithfully.

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[This is a transcript of the audio message currently available on the international missions PrayerLine by calling 1-800-395-PRAY.]
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