The Iu Mien have been harassed by the Han Chinese almost continually for 1,000 years. The Han have traditionally viewed the Iu Mien with utter contempt, despising everything about them.
The Changping Iu Mien are one of four main Iu Mien language groups in China, all of which are included under the official Yao nationality.
The Pan Hu Festival is the greatest occasion among the Iu Mien. People gather from far away to celebrate and honor their mythical progenitor. There are several different stories explaining the origins of this festival. One legend states that "during a hunting trip in the mountains, Pan Hu was knocked off a cliff by a wild goat and died as a result of his injuries. Overwhelmed by grief at his death, his Yao followers chopped down a catalpa tree and vengefully killed the goat, using its hide and the wood from the tree to make a drum which they played while mourning their leader." Another story details how the descendants of Pan formed twelve tribes which were driven from their homeland by the Chinese. During the course of their escape, they were trapped in a storm at sea. "For seven days and nights they burned joss sticks and prayed to Pan Hu to deliver them from danger until, finally, they managed to reach land. To express their gratitude to their ancestral hero for his intervention ... they started to hold a commemorative festival on a certain date."
Although the Iu Mien do not consider their worship and honor of Pan Hu as a religion, there is no doubt that it is the main spiritual aspect of their lives. Spirit priests are employed to offer sacrifices to Pan and to intercede on behalf of the people. At times during the Pan Hu Festival, people are known to enter into a demonic frenzy as the focus of their energies reach a climax.
The Changping Iu Mien are a people in desperate need of the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. With few confirmed Christians, there are almost no workers are available to take the gospel to the Changping Iu Mien in their language.
Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.
Pray for the Lord to pulverize the spiritual forces that oppress the Changping Iu Mien people.
Pray that the Changping Iu Mien people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray that church ministers and missionaries would arise to support this tribe as they accept Jesus, and that their efforts would bring much fruit of the Kingdom which the Iu Mein witnesses.
Scripture Prayers for the Iu Mien, Changping in China.
Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
