A "mass conversion" among the Lahu in 1936 brought with it many problems. The lack of further education led many converts to revert to their old ways. Although there are now about 50,000 Lahu Christians in China they still lack workers to minister to them.

Population and Location

The Lahu are one of the 55 minority groups of mainland China. In 2005 there were about 486,000 Lahu in China. The Lahu are mainly distributed in the Lancang Lahu Autonomous County in Simao Prefecture, Southern Lincang Prefecture and Menghai County in western Xishuangbanna portion of the Yunnan Province. Others live in counties along the Lancang River.

Language

The Lahu language belongs to the Chinese-Tibetan language family. Most Lahu speak Mandarin as well as the Dai language. There are several dialects. Lahu has a Latin script, invented by missionaries earlier this century, which the government reformed in 1957.

Livelihood

The main economic activities are agriculture and hunting. Lahu grow rice and maize. In Southeast Asia they are often referred to as Musser, which refers to their prowess as hunters.

Religion

Many Lahu people practice polytheism. They worship a supergod "Exia" and the deities of earth, revenge and storm. They are mostly animistic but also worship their ancestors.

Christianity

In the early 20th century Christianity was introduced to the Lahus when delegates of Lahu in Yunnan went into Burma to inquire about the Christian faith. In 1936 the church membership of the Lahu-Wa fields was reported to be 33,650 in 100 churches with 300 preachers. However, the "mass conversion" among the Lahu brought with it many problems. The lack of further education led many converts to revert to their old ways. A small percentage of Lahu in some villages of Lancang and Lincang counties are Christians.

Mission work among the Lahu led to the publication of Lahu Christian literature. In 1932 the complete New Testament was available to Lahu Christians, and in 1989 the whole Bible was completed. The Second World War and the change in government in China after the war posed great difficulties to the Lahu Christians in Yunnan. Because of their connections with American missionaries, the Japanese and the Communists were suspicious of them. Yunnan had about 20,000 Lahu Christians at that time. But when the Communists were approaching and western missionaries had to flee China, many villagers fled with them deserting their villages.

In 1993 it was reported that there were approximately 24 churches and 50,000 Lahu Christians. The Lancang region alone has more than 30,000. In some areas, nearly all the Lahus are Christians. But it is said that their faith is a mile wide but an inch thick and only a small percentage have a real understanding of their faith. On the whole, they still lack workers to minister to them. Pray that God will open up ways and means for Lahu ministers to attend formal theological training.

Prayer Points

• Pray that the Lahu will be delivered from the darkness of animism and demon worship.
• Pray for quality Christian teaching so that the Lahu church will become strong.