January 2, 2016

Happy 2016 from China!



Happy 2016 from China!  

As we kissed at 12 midnight in Beijing we heard no fireworks blast from the urban sprawl below our 29th floor apartment. Most of our 23 million neighbors are saving their powder for February 8 when their Year of the Monkey begins year 4714. Yet, the real calendars, found in banks, businesses, and Universities turned this day as we entered 2016 “in the year of our Lord” here.  

We had a very full Advent, sharing the Great News of His Coming with many people here in the capital of the world’s most populous nation. 





Our Christmas Eve service was led by singers from Samoa and Scripture readers from Brazil, Costa Rica, Romania, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico, and the USA.

Our 11 years in Kazakhstan, and now almost 7 in China, have been a great encouragement and confirmation that our Lord really is the “Savior of the World.” Truly “the government is on His shoulders!” Men and women and boys and girls have great curiosity - which many times grow into a commitment - about this one born 2000 years ago to save us. Nobody marks the birthday of Buddha, Muhammed, or Marx…but the whole world stops to consider Jesus.  




We “pushed out the envelope” and went caroling in the nearby shopping mall. We were welcomed with smiles and photo snaps.


We had our fifth annual Christmas concert in early December at Haidian Christian church. We are very thankful for this ongoing ministry partnership. More than 3000 people attended during the two nights of our program.





It was also a joy to participate in another BICF Seminary graduation. This time seven students received their Master’s degrees.                   

                                                              
We have a special opportunity to offer a globally accredited program to people who live here and many who are passing through as they prepare for their life of Kingdom service.

Mark will teach a Preaching class in January and Old Testament Wisdom books in the Spring.
 
We missed being with our own family this Christmas, but we thank the Lord for His care in their lives. 

This month Maylee turns 12 and Kekoa makes 1. God is so good!
As always, we are so very thankful for your support and prayers for our family here, in Kazakhstan, and in Oregon.

 May this new “year of our Lord” be an amazing one for you and yours!

Yours in the Desire of Nations, Mark and Dayna Blair 
Our Mission
Pioneers - 10123 William Carey Drive - Orlando, FL 32832 – USA www.pioneers.org

(Checks should be made out to ‘Pioneers’ – with a separate note attached saying: ‘Mark and Dayna Blair, Beijing.’ Electronic transfers can be sent to: http://www.pioneers.org/Give/AutomatedGiving.aspx )


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Beijing International Christian Fellowship www.bicf.org/zgc


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