Day Five: The Zhuang People

Who are the Zhuang?
The Zhuang, numbering close to 17 million people, make up the largest minority group in China. Found primarily in the southern province of Guangxi, the Zhuang have a relatively long history of Christianity, dating back to 1862 when the first Protestant missionary went to the Zhuang. Since that time, thousands of Zhuang have put their faith in Christ. The translation of the "Jesus" film and gospel radio broadcasts into a couple of the Zhuang dialects has further impacted the Zhuang, to the degree that there are now an estimated 20 to 30,000 Zhuang believers today.

This large number of believers can be misleading, however, as a huge percentage of Zhuang have yet to hear about Jesus Christ. Traditionally polytheists, many Zhuang actively practice witchcraft and magic, performing rituals and sacrifices in order to ensure protection and health for themselves and their families. Many of the younger Zhuang, particularly those raised in the city, are atheists.

Points of Prayer:
1. For the Lord to provide continued Biblical teaching and training for Zhuang Christians.

2. That every unbelieving Zhuang will have the chance to hear and understand the Gospel.

3. That the Zhuang would eagerly turn to the Lord for protection and provision rather than to witchcraft and other false religions.

4. For the Jesus film and Gospel radio broadcasts to be translated into the six Zhuang dialects whose speakers presently have no Christian witness in their language.