EXPLORE: VAISAKHI

Exploring traditions from other cultures is one way to expand your family’s view of the world and cultivate a heart for the peoples that God loves. Learn about Vaisakhi (vu-SAH-kee), the most important holiday of the year for Sikhs (seeks).

Celebrated annually on April 13 or 14, Vaisakhi (vu-SAH-kee) is similar in significance to Christmas or Easter among Christians. There are 28 million Sikhs worldwide—making the Sikh religion the fifth largest in the world! The majority of Sikhs live in the Punjab region of northern India. Sikhs believe only one God exists and that all religions worship him. A core aspect of their faith is treating everyone equally. Sikhs also strive to work hard, be honest, help the poor, and serve others.

Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi for two reasons. One, it marks the beginning of the Sikh community of faith, started by Guru Nanak in 1699. 

Two, it signals the start of the spring harvest in northern India. People gather in their fields to harvest crops, particularly wheat and mustard. While some reap the crops, others sing and play the dhol (dole), a large wooden drum. The work of gathering is transformed into a community festival.

Once crops are collected, families use the harvested wheat and mustard to prepare traditional foods–roti (ROH-tee), a round flatbread, and green curry flavored with mustard. Families wear new, colorful clothes, and attend a service at the gurdwara (guhr-DWAH-ruh). In this place of worship, the guru reads from the Guru Granth Sahib, (GOO-roo grahnt SAH-heeb), the Sikh holy book.

Afterward, everyone in the community marches in a parade through the village. Vibrant yellow and orange decorations reflect the golden wheat fields at harvest time. People sing and play the drums and tumbi (TOOM-be), a small instrument that looks like a one-stringed guitar. Women perform a special harvest dance called the bhangra (BAHN-gruh).

Sometimes activities for children are set up and free food is provided for all at the gurdwara. More than a place of worship, the gurdwara serves as a community center where food, friendship and shelter are extended to all. Vaisakhi is a joy-filled celebration that reflects Sikh core values and is shared by family, friends, and the entire community.

Read my full article with kid-friendly ways to pray and an activity at Via Families.

Unpacking Ramadan With Our Kids

As we gear up for Easter, the biggest celebration of the Christian calendar, Muslims are preparing for theirs as well. Many Christians use Lent as a season to prepare our hearts for Easter. Later this week, Muslims will kick off Ramadan, a month of fasting that culminates in their biggest holiday of the year, Eid.

This year Lent and Ramadan overlap. And while it would be easy to get lost in the countdown to Easter, we can seize the opportunity to pray for Muslims around the world. Whether we're familiar with Ramadan or if it feels like this mysterious event, we can grow in our love for the Lord and the world by praying for Muslims during their month of fasting. 

Since many of us are intentionally preparing our hearts to rejoice in how Christ rescued us from the dominion of darkness, we can naturally pray for the light of the gospel to dawn in Muslim hearts across the globe.

If talking about worldviews that differ from Christianity is tricky for your family, check out this article I wrote with three guidelines to teach our kids about other worldviews. We want to openly talk with our kids about what others believe. Learning about other worldviews can be a bridge toward praying for the lost and sharing the gospel.

WHAT IS RAMADAN?

Ramadan is an Islamic month focused on seeking God and prayer. Muslims fast from sunset to sunrise. They refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. This year Ramadan starts on March 22 and ends April 21 (these are estimates as the exact start and end dates depend on a lunar calendar.) Every year Ramadan moves up 11 days!

Muslims spend more time praying and giving to the poor during this time. Each evening at sunset, families break their fast together by eating a date, then consuming a large meal with special food. Many Muslims also rise early before sunrise to eat a meal. Ramadan concludes with the biggest celebration of the Muslim year, Eid.

RAMADAN VIDEO
As a family, watch this short video (about 3 minutes!) called, "Kids Explain Ramadan" to gain insight about Ramadan from a Muslim child's perspective. (Halal means food prepared according to Islamic law.)

PRAYER PROMPTS

1) Pray for Muslim families to come to know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

2) Pray for Muslims to have dreams of Jesus as they seek out God more during this month.

3) Ask God to place Christians in the lives of Muslims who can walk alongside them and share the gospel.

4) Pray Muslim families would understand that the type of fasting God desires is a life dedicated to helping the poor, the oppressed, and the needy (Isaiah 58:3–11). 

5) The month of Ramadan can be exhausting for some women with fasting, disrupted sleep rhythms, preparing nicer food than usual, and still feeding non-fasting kids during the day. Pray women would find rest in Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30).

ACTIVITIES
1) Swing by the Weave website to learn more about Ramadan, read a kid-focused story, and watch a children's video about the Malay.

2) If you have Muslim friends, ask them to share about why Ramadan is important and how they celebrate it. This is a chance to listen to what matters to them and why. When you return home, pray for your friends. When Ramadan is over, be sure to tell them Happy Eid! (Eid is the big celebration at the end of the month!)

3) Use dates to spark family prayer. Buy some dates from the store. (They are super tasty—nature's dessert!) Muslims typically eat a date before breaking their fast each evening. Each night before your family eats dinner this month, have each family member eat a date, then pray for Muslims together.

4) Create a Moon Phase Puzzle using just a few supplies! Since Ramadan is based on a lunar calendar, this is a great time brush up on the phases of the moon. Then pray for Muslims throughout the changing moon phases! 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1) Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story: Lailah is old enough to participate in the month of fasting for the first time, but living in America makes it different. When classmates are confused about why she doesn't join them during lunch, a school librarian provides a quiet space for Lailah in the library. (Ages 6 to 8)

2) Muslim World Prayer Guide: 30 Days of Prayer: Each day readers will be introduced to a Muslim people group or part of the world where Muslims live and ways to intercede.

3) 5 Things Christians Should Know About Ramadan: Practical article with a link to a free digital prayer guide.

4) Hidden Treasures of the Muslim World: A 30-Day Prayer Guide: Sign up to receive daily emails with specific ways to pray for Muslims. These short emails will help unpack key aspects of culture and traditions to deepen your understanding and better guide your intercession.

Be sure to watch for more World Holidays Prayer Guides throughout the coming year!

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

 FAMILY PRAYER GUIDE

November 6th is the international day of prayer for the persecuted church. A day set aside to intentionally pray as the Church for our brothers and sisters worldwide who are suffering for their faith. 

Across the globe, Christians suffer at a high cost for their devotion to Jesus. One in seven experiences intense persecution. For those of us who reside in the West, it can be challenging to comprehend such realities, let alone teach our kids about them. But November 6th is a day we can teach our kids to pray for the persecuted church.

Below is a prayer guide to help your family participate in this special day of prayer.

Family Devotion: Remembering to Pray

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:3 ICB).

Can you think of a time when someone said something mean to you? It can hurt our feelings. We may feel sad or lonely. It can be hard to forget the words said. We may wonder if others still like us.

Sometimes following Jesus means those who aren't Christians may treat Christians unkindly—this is called persecution. Some countries say it's against the law to become a Christian. Some places won't let a Christian keep a job. Or some governments toss Christians in jail for teaching the Bible. Sometimes others make fun of Christians.

But we shouldn't be surprised when this happens. Jesus tells us in the Bible to expect that some people won't like believers because of their faith in God (John 15:18).

Even if Christians may be persecuted for their faith in Jesus, they aren't alone. They don't have to be sad. Jesus says He is always with us (Matt. 28:20). He promises to give us—and all believers—strength to keep trusting God.

Even if we aren't treated unkindly for our faith, we can understand how it may feel. And today's Bible verse tells us to remember Christians who are treated meanly by others. One big way we can remember them is by praying!

We can pray for persecuted Christians to trust God when others hurt them. We can pray they look forward to the day all sadness will end because they will be with Jesus forever in heaven! And no unkind word will be spoken again! 

Persecution Video

As a family, watch this short video (about 2 minutes!) produced by Open Doors for kids to understand how following Jesus isn't allowed everywhere.

Prayer Prompts

Using the prayer prompts, pray for persecuted Christians around the world:

1) Pray for persecuted Christians to not be afraid and to know God is with them.
2) Pray for believers in countries where being a Christian isn't allowed to keep meeting together to grow in their faith.
3) Ask for persecuted Christians to keep sharing their faith with others in wise ways.

  

Activities

Below are some activities to learn more about what it's like in places where it's dangerous to be a Christian. 

1) Swing by the Weave website to participate in two family activities to better understand what it means to be persecuted for following Jesus, discuss the Bible verses together on the topic, and pray for the strength of persecuted Christians.

2) Print off a prayer passport for kids. Children can pray for the persecuted church by getting a prayer stamp for 50 countries inside a prayer passport. Like getting a passport stamped, children can mark off their prayer participation for that country. Use this passport to guide family prayer for the persecuted church in kid-friendly ways over 50 days.

3) Print off eight Secret Church coloring pages that include a Bible verse and a kid-friendly aspect about the persecuted church in a different part of the world from Open Doors. These pages can meet little ones where they are developmentally but also provide a springboard for conversation about persecution as a family. 

Additional Resources

To keep digging deeper, here are resources to grow our children's understanding of persecution. As we increase our understanding, we can better pray for our brothers and sisters around the globe.

1) Courageous book series (Preschool–2nd)
This Voice of the Martyrs picture book series captures the importance of boldly sharing our faith, even when it’s hard. The set includes six books about well-known men of faith and how they remained faithful to Christ despite persecution.

2) Persecution: What can I do?: A 45-minute lesson that shares stories of persecution and our responsibility to pray for them (elementary kids).

3) Challenge on the Hill of Fire (ages 7–12)
This Imagination Station series book draws kids into the life of Bishop Patrick (the man behind Saint Patrick’s Day) as he stands up for his faith in God—even if it may cost his life. This book provides a unique lens for kids to understand the cost of following Christ in a story format.

As we teach our families about the persecuted church, may we model our responsibility and joy to pray for our suffering brothers and sisters across the earth.

Unpacking the Day of the Dead With Our Kids

"I don't think we can participate in the Day of the Dead at school," my nine-year-old son tells me on the car ride home.

"Why is that?" I ask.

"I think they want us to celebrate death," he says.

"How so?" I ask.

"They want us to bring a picture of loved ones who died and put it on an altar."  

A couple weeks ago, we had a conversation about Halloween and the type of decorations we wouldn't use at our home because we didn't want to celebrate death—something that came as a result of disobedience to God and brings sorrow.

"I like how you're thinking about this," I say, "But I don't think there's anything wrong with remembering loved ones who have died. We would never pray to them or think our prayers could change anything for them now. We only pray to God."

From the silence in the car, I know my deep-thinking child is processing my words.

"How about we keep talking about this as your school shares its plans for this day?"

I watch my son nod his head in my rearview mirror. 

The Day of the Dead is a tricky holiday to navigate as a Christian parent. While we want our children to be exposed to different cultures, this is the holiday I hear the most concern about. And I get it because it makes me uncomfortable too. 

NAVIGATING THE WORLDVIEW MAZE

We don't want our kids to think the spirits of deceased loved ones will visit on this day or that somehow spirits can be summoned to connect with the dead. We want our families to avoid any participation in summoning the dead (Deut. 18:10–12). But we can take a step back to see things from a different point of view. We can be cultural learners. 

I'm not advocating our kids participate in any religious aspects of the holiday (such as placing photos on an altar) or explain the deeper spiritual implications of this day but instead to view it as a chance to understand a different worldview. And to see how the gospel meets the needs of another culture. 

The hope Christians have because Jesus defeated death is life-changing. We know evil spirits exist but that Jesus has authority over them (Mark 5:1–13). We don't condone the mistaken spiritual implications that can lend itself toward celebrating death. But as often happens, a once religious holiday can become more secularized. The Day of the Dead is practiced differently depending upon its location. We should keep this in mind as our kids are exposed to this celebration. 

The skulls, altar, and talk of the dead may stir up concern in our hearts. Skulls decorated with flowers and hearts may strike our kids as odd or sad. It may lead to conversations about death—which can help us talk to our children about the hope we have in Jesus who defeated death. But it is also a chance to celebrate the life of loved ones who have passed away. Just as Americans might visit and leave flowers at the grave of a deceased loved one.

We can shepherd our kids through learning about a holiday we don't celebrate without fear. The apostle Paul observed the beliefs of others—even those that ran contrary to the Bible—as a springboard to talk about the gospel. He didn't condone their false beliefs but used it as a bridge toward Truth (Acts 17:22–34). We can help our kids navigate the maze of worldviews from a biblical lens so as they grow, they have the right tools to filter the world through a biblical framework. 

I think there's a way to learn about it without crossing any lines (and doesn't mean we have to celebrate death or endorse the holiday) but it involves good conversations with our kids. 

Remember we want to openly talk with our kids about what others believe. For an overview of how to guide conservations about other religions with your kids, check out this article I wrote. As we increase our understanding, we can better pray for others and cultivate the skills to run everything we see and hear around us through a biblical framework.

WHAT IS THE DAY OF THE DEAD?

The Day of the Dead is a celebration held in Mexico and Latin American countries from the evening of October 31–November 2. The Day of the Dead is a time to happily remember family and friends who have died. People decorate an altar with skulls, flowers, and pictures of deceased loved ones. Sometimes the favorite food and drinks of the deceased loved ones are brought to their graves. Participants give friends small gifts such as candy sugar skulls and bake sweet bread.

DAY OF THE DEAD VIDEO
As a family, watch this short video (about 1.5 minutes!) produced by the PBS Kids show Let's Go Luna!

PRAYER PROMPTS

1) Pray for Mexican and Latin American families to know Jesus has power over all spirits.
2) Pray for Mexican and Latin American families to understand how Jesus has defeated death.

3) Ask God to give Christians in Mexico and Latin America strength to represent Christ well when they may need to abstain from celebrating this cultural holiday.

ACTIVITIES
1) Watch the movie Coco as a family. Discuss the differences between what Mexicans believe about death, spirits, and the afterlife with what the Bible teaches. Consider walking through how Paul interacted with those whose worldview wasn't biblical in Acts 17:22–34.

2) Make Champurrado, a traditional Mexican hot chocolate enjoyed during this holiday, and talk with your kids about what is good about the Day of the Dead (such as celebrating the life of loved ones who have passed away), what doesn't line up with Scripture, and then spend time praying for those who celebrate this holiday and don't know Jesus yet.

Champurrado recipe:

¼ cup corn flour
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
4 cups water
4 ounces bittersweet Mexican chocolate, grated
4 cinnamon sticks
1-2 star anise blooms

Simmer in a big pot until warm! Enjoy!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1) Goodbye to Goodbyes: A True Story About Jesus, Lazarus, and an Empty Tomb: Through the Bible story of Lazarus, children learn how Jesus came to give life after death. (Ages 4 to 8)

2) How Should Christians Think About the Day of the Dead?: A Gospel Coalition article about the deeper implications of this Mexican and Latin American holiday.

Be sure to watch for more World Holidays Prayer Guides throughout the coming year!

Unpacking Diwali With Our Kids

When October rolls around, my mind drifts to pumpkin spice coffee, autumn leaves, and Halloween. But another holiday fills this month as well: Diwali. While the exact date changes each year, it takes place every October or November.

Sometimes learning about another religion's holidays can feel uncomfortable. Like wearing a pair of shoes a size too big. But it's a great way to understand and connect with those who believe differently. And it allows us to teach our kids how to navigate different worldviews from a Christian lens. Training our kids how to filter different belief systems through a biblical worldview now will give our kids the tools to do so for themselves in the years ahead.

We want to openly talk with our kids about what others believe. For an overview of how to guide conservations about other religions with your kids, check out this article I wrote. As we increase our understanding, we can better pray for others.

WHAT IS DIWALI?

Diwali (duh-VAH-lee) is a Hindu celebration held on October 24 this year. Diwali is a festival of lights—a celebration of light, good, and knowledge defeating darkness, evil, and ignorance. It lasts five days. Hindus decorate their homes, exchange gifts, and eat lots of tasty food. It's one of the biggest Hindu holidays of the year—so it's similar in importance as Christmas or Easter is for Christians.

DIWALI VIDEO
As a family, watch this short video (about 3 minutes!) produced by National Geographic to gain insight about Diwali (and see some of its beauty as well!).

PRAYER PROMPTS

1) Pray for Hindu families to come to know Jesus as the light of the world. Ask that Hindus would no longer walk in darkness but follow Jesus and have the light of life (John 8:12).
2) Pray for Hindu families to understand how Jesus has defeated darkness and evil.
3) Ask God to place Christians in the lives of Hindus who can walk alongside them and share the gospel.

ACTIVITIES
1) Swing by the Weave website to learn more about Diwali, create your own diya lamp, make a creative design to welcome Jesus into your family's home, and learn how to pray for Hindus as a family.
2) Hang up white lights on a porch or room in your home. Then make a popular Diwali treat, Gulab Jamun. Enjoy your treat while sitting under the sparkling lights as a family and praying for Hindus.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1) Binny's Diwali: Binny finds the courage to tell her classmates about her favorite holiday, Diwali. This is a great book to discuss some differences between Hindus and Christians regarding religious beliefs. (Ages 4 to 8)

2) Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Diwali: National Geographic Kids dives more into how Diwali became a holiday, why it's important to Hindus, and the ways this holiday is celebrated. (Grades 2 to 4)

Be sure to watch for more World Holidays Prayer Guides throughout the coming year!