Daily Topic for May 29, 2007
One of the most trying times in the life of a missionary family is not language learning or adjusting to new cultures. It is the furlough time. Often intended-at least in part-for rest and refreshment, furlough times are more frequently crowded with speaking engagements and church visits. These occasions pressure the missionary to be “up” all the time. No wonder many missionaries look forward to returning to the field to get some rest!
Pray for furloughing missionaries, that they might find “refreshing rest” in the company of their supporters.
A religious group in Canada believes in one god only, Ahura Mazda, and they perceive themselves as the first monotheistic religion in history. They worship only in the presence of fire, and will not allow “outsiders” to convert to their religion. One must be born into this religion.
These people are Zoroastrians, a group originally from Persia (Iran). When Muslims came to Persia in the 7th century, they began to discriminate against the Zoroastrians, so many of them fled to western India. In India, they became known as “Pars,” the people from Persia, though they retained the Zoroastrian religion. Later, under British rule, they became a highly respected group whose socio-political and economic influence was out of proportion to their relatively small numbers.
In Canada today, Zoroastrians are known as Parsees. The largest influx of Parsees began after Canadian immigration laws were changed in 1945, relaxing restrictions against Asians. Today, the group numbers about 3,000, and the vast majority of Parsees live in and around Toronto.
Learn more at joshuaproject.netPray for the Parsees to realize that there is indeed only one God: the God of the Bible. Pray for Canadian and Iranian Christians to reach out to the Parsees with the message of the gospel.-JWS
Next day: Buddhist Thai in Canada
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