Reaching the Hui

Posted on 27 April 2009.

More than 11 million Hui people make up the largest Muslim ethnic minority in China. Groups of Hui can be found in many cities across the country; some can be recognised by their traditional white caps or headscarves, while others are virtually indistinguishable from the majority Han Chinese. They generally speak the same dialect as the local Chinese, but continue to maintain their ethnic and religious identity.

An OMF report comments that, "For the Hui their identity as part of the Muslim community is very important and is a barrier to their acceptance of the Gospel. Hui who become Christians away from home and then return to their community find it hard to share their faith and, because they bring shame to their family, often have to leave and go elsewhere to work."

Still some hearts are open to the Lord and there are a small number of Christian believers, mainly young women, amongst the Hui. "I prayed to receive Jesus as my Lord and Saviour just before I graduated from university," wrote one young Hui lady. "When I returned home I feared that my new identity in Christ would be discovered, so I did everything possible to hide it. But to my surprise, after two months of being home, my mum also prayed the prayer of repentance. I then admitted that I too believed. In my mother's great joy at her salvation she told my grandmother. But grandma was drastically opposed to this news and put great pressure on us to renounce Christ." (OMF)

There is still some ethnic tension between the Hui and Han Chinese, so it is often challenging for Han Chinese Christians to build relationships and share the Gospel with the Hui. Foreign believers have had some opportunities, particularly through the teaching of English. However, there is still an urgent need to press through in prayer for a Gospel breakthrough amongst the Hui.

Pray for both Han Chinese and foreign Christians who have a heart for the Hui. Pray for the Lord's protection over them, for their love for these people to grow, for great wisdom as they seek to share the Word and disciple young believers, and for much fruit from their ministry.

Pray for more Christians to take on the burden of praying for the Hui and of seeking to reach them with the Good News. May each one be committed to pressing on until there is a viable church planted amongst this people group.

Give thanks for those amongst the Hui who have come to know the Lord. Pray that they might remain strong in the midst of the pressures surrounding them and that they might be faithful in sharing their faith when opportunities arise.

Pray that the barriers that hold back the Hui from trusting in the Lord might be torn down and that a powerful move of the Holy Spirit might draw many into God's Kingdom.