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
)
Skype blairstan
Our Ministry
Hear Mark’s current sermons: http://bicf.org/sermons/messages/series/a-growing-church-for-a-growing-city-ephesians
