China (MNN) – Millions around the world celebrate the Chinese New Year today. This major holiday is celebrated for sixteen days, with the first seven considered a public holiday in China. People travel to visit family and hail the change of the lunar new year. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse.
Kurt Rovenstine with Bibles for China says, “It’s a big deal if you’re Chinese, or know anybody that is from China or has Chinese heritage. That is a major celebration. The country shuts down. Everybody goes to visit family… It’s a time of great celebration, but it’s also an opportunity for ministry and outreach. Just to maybe if someone in your circle is Chinese to reach out and wish him a happy Chinese New Year and kind of strengthen that relationship that you have with him.”
Christians in China
Unfortunately, the changing year in China likely won’t mark a change in the attitudes toward Christians. Rovenstine says the church continues to face a tightening of reins. For many, the current restrictions bring to mind years where the older generations faced significant opposition to church activity.
“There is an opportunity within the church where there’ll be some kind of coming together. People who experienced some of the freedom of 2000 to 2016, ’17, ’18 – in there, when things seemed to be opening up – maybe are now having to step back and ask those who went through more difficult times, ‘How do we manage this?’”
(Image courtesy of Bibles for China)
In the West, that discussion can be a difficult one. Many times, it is challenging to get information passed between generations. However, in China, Rovenstine is hopeful the cultural differences will work to assist the younger generations.
“One of the wonderful dynamics of the Chinese culture is that respect for the past and the elders that have gone through things that younger people have not. So there’s a culture there that is very conducive to that kind of passing along with wisdom. I think we need to be praying for the church that wisdom does get passed on.”
Rovenstine is hopeful that the New Year celebration will be a time for some of that wisdom to be passed on. In addition to discussions within the church, Rovenstine says that with all the traveling and family time, the Chinese New Year is a great opportunity to give a truly meaningful gift.
Sharing Scripture as a Gift
One of their partner churches requested Bibles to pass out as part of their church celebrations. Rovenstine encourages Christians in or outside of China to consider making that part of their New Year celebration as well.
“For somebody that has a friend that’s of Chinese heritage, or recently come from China, to be able to acknowledge that significant celebration in that individual’s life and culture, and then to provide a gift of this children’s Bible to them that they could use, either in their own reading or maybe to take back to China.”
If you would like to share a Chinese Bible with someone who needs one, request one here. If you want to support the ministry of Bibles for China, click here.
Header photo is a representative stock image courtesy of Bruce Emmerling via Pixabay
