Bibles distributed in Yunnan Province
By Ruth Lee, assistant to Kua Wee-Seng, UBS Asia Opportunity Program Coordinator

Delivery of Bibles to Dai and Lahu churches in Yunnan Province using the van purchased with funding from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod through the American Bible Society under the Opportunity 21 program. PR China. Photo: Asia Opportunity Programs (PRC02DJ-1.JPG)

PR CHINA — The China Christian Council has distributed Bibles to Dai and Lahu churches in Yunnan Province using the van purchased with funding from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod through the American Bible Society under the Opportunity 21 program. The trip, undertaken in February, involved a journey of several days from the Bible distribution center in Kunming.

Special service

At the Dai church in Xishuangbanna, the distribution team was warmly welcomed by several hundred members, and a special worship service was held to mark the presentation of the Bibles. This church has two female Dai preachers, both of whom were Buddhists but became Christians under the influence of their husbands’ families. Both women were prompted by their desire for God’s Word to teach themselves to read the Bible in Dai, and are now able to share it with others.

The members of the Lahu church in Dabanli village, a day’s journey from Xishuangbanna, also expressed great joy at receiving Bibles. This church runs a Bible literacy class for around 50 students, most of whom are teenagers who have been unable to continue with their education. The church leaders have found that the Bible has been an extremely powerful tool in encouraging young people to turn away from drinking, gambling and drugs.

Spiritual food