Biblical Perspectives on Lunar New Year

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Dear Ministry Partner,

Lunar year 2023 is a year of the Cat on the Vietnamese Zodiac, from January 23rd, 2023 to February 9, 2024. Cat is the fourth sign in the Vietnamese Zodiac, taking place of the Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac.

Celebrating lunar new year is to maintain ethnic identity. It is the most important point on the Lunar Calendar. It has symbolized the act of starting over with renewed hopes for happiness and prosperity. It is also a time to renew ties with family and friends, through family reunion dinners and social visits.

The celebration was traditionally marked by a religious ceremony in honor of Heaven and Earth, the household gods, and ancestors, Vietnamese Christians will celebrate the event from the perspective of their faith in Christ.

Christian interpretations have been given to many of the traditional symbols associated with Lunar New Year:

House-cleaning: It is a good time for Christians to evaluate their lives in light of their commitment to Christ.

Spring couplets: The traditional practice of displaying couplets or pairs of auspicious characters at the doorways is reintroduced among Christians by putting up Christian messages.

New clothes: This can be an opportunity for giving thanks for God’s abundant provisions (Rom 5:17).

Feasting: While over-indulging these few days, remember that our body is the “temple of the Holy Spirit”, so do not abuse it. Also remember the Christian virtue of hospitality, especially for those less fortunate.

Oranges: Oranges are exchanged as a blessing for prosperity, because the Cantonese word for “orange” sounds like gold. Christians are reminded that gold also symbolizes a genuine faith (1 Pet 1:7).

Lai Shi: As gifts are given both to those below and above us in status, it is good to remember those who have served us faithfully, and also the Lord, to whom ultimate respect is due (Ex 20:3).

Ancestors: While Vietnamese Christians will worship the one true God rather than their ancestors, that hardly means that they dishonor or neglect their family ancestors or even the ancestors of the faith. Scripture clearly calls us to respect those who came before us, and to honor our parents (Ex 20:12).

The CCI Team rejoices as new pastors and church leaders are being trained in northern Vietnam. We have been praying for Sung A Nu, our new Area Coordinator for the Hmong tribal people in the region of the country. Please continue to pray for wisdom, divine leading, and safety as they start CCI classes in the north and serve locally.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

National Director/CCI Vietnam

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Classes

CCI class in central Vietnam

New class in central Vietnam

Testimonies

"My wife and I would like to thank CCI for making our dream of returning back home come true. Praise God for faithful prayers and generous giving. It is very encouraging for us to accomplish our calling. After 8 years living and serving God in Ho Chi Minh City, we returned home with a mission of training church leaders.

Our first difficulty was that the weather in the north is very cold. My wife and I decided not to live with our parents. We decided to rent a house right in the city to facilitate traveling to visit churches. We had to spend a lot of money on renting and renovating the house. Another difficulty we face is that the roads in the north are very difficult. Many churches are far away in remote mountainous areas, without concrete roads, and in many places without electricity. What I am glad about is that the barrier between the organizations/denominations in the provinces in the northern areas is not too big. This makes it easy for us to reach many pastors and leaders in different churches. This month we started a CCI class with 18 students. We began to teach them God’s Financial Principals (GFP) seminar. This month, we are going to teach BTCP’s Curriculum. We need your prayer and support so that the doors will be opened for the Word of God to equip and train church leaders."

CCI North Coordinator

"I am Mr. L, I am 74 years old. I am a pastor of a house church in a province of Cambodia among the Vietnamese Community. I am so happy to be trained in CCI’s program. My favorite subject is Preaching and Pastoral Ministry (Book#4). This course equipped me to prepare a message better. Focusing on the text is crucial to preach the text. Besides, the course of Personal Spiritual Growth and Church History developed me in a higher level in relationship with the Lord. I learned from many Christians of how they walked with the Lord and sacrificed for Him. Building a solid spiritual life helps a pastor to face the difficulty of ministry."

Mr. L

Graduate in Cambodia

Help Support New Coordinators & Ministry Needs in Vietnam

Prayer Requests & Praises

We would like to invite our friends to take part with us in prayer for the special training for Hmong pastors in the north to prepare for becoming teachers in the north area. May God provide and protect them as they travel to be trained in northern Vietnam.

Pray for a new CCI class in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and in central Vietnam. There are 3 CCI classes that will be started in the north of Vietnam in the Hmong language this April and May.

The TTW (Teacher Training Workshop) in central Vietnam will be held at the end of March.

Pray that God will provide for the project of building a bible training center in central Vietnam. The estimated cost is $45,000-50,000. The building can be used for a Christian book company, library, and training center.

The staff of CCI Vietnam is looking forward to the Global Conference to be held in Thailand in November. Many would like to go, but do not have the money to buy plane tickets. Please pray for God’s provision for this. If you feel led to help, please click HERE. Thank you.

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