Tibetan Believers

Posted on 22 March 2010.

Following the riots in China's Tibetan regions during 2008 and further disturbances in the time since then, access to these areas has been restricted.

For a time no foreigners were allowed there at all, but gradually things have become slightly more relaxed and we were able to send a short-term team to the region in October 2009. Prior to that we had been sending intercession teams to the area for more than ten years, as well as having a small number of long-term co-workers based in a nearby city.

While the restrictions since 2008 have made things more difficult and somewhat frustrating for those seeking to bring the Gospel to the Tibetan regions, the Lord Himself is of course still at work. As He says in Isaiah 65:1, "People who never before inquired about Me are now asking about Me. I am being found by people who were not looking for Me. To them I have said, ‘I am here!'"

One of our co-workers has shared an encouraging testimony of meeting a Tibetan man who had had two powerful dreams. As this young man told of his dreams, it was clear that God had been revealing Himself to the man. Our co-worker encouraged him to call out to the Lord, which he did, and more recently this young Tibetan was baptised. "His face glows with the glory of God," our co-worker shared.

Yet life is not easy for Tibetan believers. This young man has not yet told his family of his new-found faith, as he fears persecution from them and from others living in his village. Many Tibetans believe that being Buddhist is an integral part of being Tibetan and other Tibetan Christians have received death threats because of their public proclamation of their faith.

Standing as a light for the Lord is also not easy for our Tibetan-based co-workers. They were recently described as "folk on the cutting edge, piercing the powers of darkness." Please do lift them up regularly in prayer, as they seek to shine for Him in a dark and often frustrating place.

Give thanks that the Lord has been at work, even when His people were denied access to the Tibetan regions. Pray that many more Tibetans might have dreams and visions that reveal to them the truth of the One and Only Living God.

Pray for young Tibetan believers who face much opposition from those around them. May they not give in to fear, but know the Lord's empowering and His deep peace in their hearts.

Pray for foreign Christians working in the Tibetan areas. May they know the Lord's protection and encouragement, and may they see ever more fruit from their service for Him in that spiritually dark land.