This week I was given the opportunity to plan the entire church service — including the message. I chose to speak on the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. One of the central messages of this parable is the importance of being prepared.
That raised a question for me: prepared for what — and how?
It reminded me of those old “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. The story unfolded based on the choices you made. As we move into February and March, it feels like we are standing in one of those moments. There are significant seasons coming up in the lives of people around us, and we get to choose how we will respond.
This term, there are three adventures awaiting us, each centred on a people group God has already placed among us. You do not have to do all three. Which one(s) will you choose — and how will you prepare?
Three upcoming adventures
Adventure 1: Friends who celebrate Lunar New Year (17 February – 3 March)
Adventure 2: Muslim friends entering Ramadan (18 February – 19 March)
Adventure 3: Hindu friends preparing for Holi (3 – 4 March)
Each of these adventures looks different, but they share the same heart:
- Preparing beforehand, especially through prayer
- Choosing specific people, not vague intentions
- Walking with people over time, using Scripture as the foundation
Adventure 1: Friends who celebrate Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures — including people from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and beyond. It is a deeply relational season, focused on family, blessing, and hope for the year ahead.
Prayer
I have prepared a guided prayer journey specifically for Lunar New Year. It is designed to help us pray intentionally for friends and families by name — asking God to open hearts, deepen trust, and allow spiritual conversations to grow naturally.
Resources
My goal is to make it easy for you to share the Gospel with people from different cultures. Below is an invitation you can easily send by social media.
Lunar New Year is often a time to pause — to think about family, hope, and the year ahead.
This website offers short stories and reflections from the life and teachings of Jesus, shared gently and thoughtfully.
Available in multiple languages. No sign-up required.
mylanguage.net.au/newyear
The website offers several short “adventures” you can explore together. You might begin with Wisdom for Everyday Life, to show how the Bible speaks to everyday issues people still face. Or you might watch a short video about the life of Jesus and simply ask your friend what stands out to them.
The parable of the ten virgins reminds us that readiness matters. Opportunities often come unexpectedly, but preparation allows us to respond with peace and confidence rather than hesitation.
So as we look ahead to the coming weeks, the question is simple:
Which people group will you focus on — and how will you prepare to walk with them?
Next week, I will share ideas for the second adventure.
P.S. Who do you think would be encouraged by this email? Forward it to them and let them know they can walk alongside experienced cross-cultural evangelists by visiting: https://hereslife.com/encouragement