What We’re Seeing in Asia

Setting the Course

Psalm 84 enables us to peer into the Christian pilgrimage from three vantage points. In the first four verses, we can take the vantage point of a pilgrim whose heart is set on a journey to Zion. The pilgrim knows the road will be long and the destination distant. Regardless of the trek ahead, his heart and flesh are filled with joy knowing the pilgrimage will lead him to the courts of the Lord. His heart and soul are not longing for an edifice. Instead, he longs to be in the presence of the Lord himself ­— to dwell where he is, and to ever sing his praise!

In verses 5-8, the pilgrim is on his way. The journey has led to an unpleasant place. The path to Zion leads him through the Valley of Weeping. This seems unfavorable at first glance. It was joy in the Lord that spurred this trek. Is there joy that can be found in the valley? Yes! The pilgrim is learning to always rejoice in the Lord. The One whose presence he is seeking is not only present at the destination. The King upon whom he has set his affections is Immanuel. The tears shed in the valley turn it into a place of springs. Fellow pilgrims now have a place from which to draw strength as they journey to Zion.

As we proceed through verses 9-12, it is as if we are with the pilgrim as he arrives in Zion. He stands and marvels at what his eyes are beholding. The glory of the King is radiating throughout his courts. As the pilgrim takes in this beauty, our souls are quickened to long and yearn for the courts of the Lord. This psalm sets the course for how Christ is glorified through the lives of his people.

Staying the Course

Our journey to Zion takes different routes on this side of glory. I get the privilege of peering into the lives of the pilgrims who journey through much of Asia.  Healthy churches are collaborating well in strong church networks to send out an increasing number of missionaries. These missionaries are sent out with hearts that yearn to see Christ exalted. More often than not, as these pilgrims faithfully serve, the Lord carries them into difficult circumstances. In the past few months, some of the missionaries in the region have received difficult health diagnoses. Some have been in painful accidents. A few have endured gruesome diseases. Many have experienced heavy loneliness. And several have lost loved ones. The valleys are sometimes deep, and the tears are often abundant.

As the psalm explains, these adverse circumstances have not left God’s people weak or unable to serve. On the contrary, the Lord is using these circumstances to display his strength in the lives of his people. As a result, new Christians are coming to faith. The number of healthy churches is growing. The number of local pastors being trained is sharply increasing. Much gospel advancement is happening!

Enjoying the Journey

Earlier this month, the first-ever Weekender in Asia was held in the region. A Weekender allows current or aspiring church leaders to assemble and be immersed in an exemplary church’s life and inner workings. These participants enjoyed collaboration among the like-minded attendees. This conference was hosted and carried out entirely by a local church. There were members of 25 different churches from seven different countries at the conference!

The region is also gearing up for a conference in the spring on healthy churches. That conference will be bigger in scope and include more church representatives from more countries than those at the Weekender.  These are great indicators of the growing influence of mature churches in Asia.

Along with the health of the churches, the health of our global workers remains strong. The percentage of workers attaining advanced local language proficiency continues to rise. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Without the ability to teach the Scriptures in the local languages, the impact of missionaries is marginalized. The more deeply we can help locals feast on the Scriptures, the healthier they become.

Circumstances are hard on the front lines. They are not any easier for our national partners. As they join in the great pilgrimage, they also travel through valleys. As the journey takes unexpected twists, it leads to unexpected strength. In turn, unexpected tears lead to unexpected streams. Those streams are part of the Lord’s sovereign plan to aid fellow pilgrims go from strength to strength, until we all appear before God in Zion!

Prayer for the Pilgrims

Pray for sending churches: Pray that the churches will know how to be actively engaged in the places they send their missionaries through evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development.

Pray for field churches: Pray that the churches on the field will continue to grow in health and maturity. Pray they will be faithful in planting and raising up more healthy churches throughout the region.

Pray for global workers: Pray they will be faithful members of their churches. Pray their ministries will be Christ-exalting and church-centered. Pray for strong spiritual vitality.

Pray for the region: Asia has the largest population on earth. Pray that God will be glorified through the churches, and that they boldly display their love for their Savior, regardless of the socio-political and ideological settings in which the Lord has placed them.