This Chinese New year, use your ang baos to bring blessings of Good News
Peck Sim // January 24, 2024, 12:17 am
Through their "Can I Pray for You?" movement, Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church has seen members stepping up to pray for their pre-believing loved ones and even strangers on the street. Photo by BBTC.
You’ve heard of Where’s Wally. But have you heard of Where’s Jesus?
Borrowing from the Where’s Wally book concept of spotting the iconic Wally hidden in every detailed illustration, Christian retailer ChezHemdi invites us to look for the figure of Jesus in ang baos illustrated with Jesus’ 37 miracles.
“How can we put Jesus inside and let Him be the focus during Chinese New Year?”
ChezHemdi founder Hemdi Unamee, 42, believes these ang baos offer a fun way of introducing Jesus to friends and family members over the festive season.
“The ang bao is a good medium to share Christ because everyone is giving them during Chinese New Year,” Hemdi said. “How can we put Jesus inside and let Him be the focus during Chinese New Year?”
ChezHemdi, along with The Commandment Co, Cornerstone Community Church and Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church (BBTC), are among those leveraging the Chinese New Year tradition of ang bao giving as a platform for outreach.
Here are their ideas for sharing New Year greetings of abundant life, new beginnings and the ultimate blessing that is Jesus Christ.
Marvel at the miracles of Jesus: ChezHemdi
Hemdi and her husband Peter Hui wanted to create an ang bao design that would be an avenue to share the Gospel. It would also be a physical reminder of the miracles of God.
The initial concept was to highlight the triumphant entry of Jesus and the blessing that comes with it.
“When Jesus comes into your life, into your house, especially for Chinese New Year, it’s a big thing, a grand thing,” Hemdi told Salt&Light.
Eventually, they extended the idea to focus on the miracles of Jesus. After all, when Jesus enters a town, a city, a life, miracles start to appear, Hemdi said.
The couple used these reflections to craft a narrative and create scenes that people can spot on the ang baos.
The healing of the paralytic let into the house through the roof (Matthew 9:1-8). A QR code on the ang pao directs to a page describing the miracles and scripture references. Photo by ChezHemdi.
Peter, a graphic designer, illustrated each miracle by hand.
The couple believes that the miracles, most of which are of healing, are relatable.
“It would be a good platform to pray for healing when the ang baos are given out,” Hemdi said.
Peter hopes that, through interaction with this ang bao, people will come to know God as a miracle working God.
Hemdi and Peter, who have two boys of five and three years old, were inspired by the illustrations in their children’s books.
At the back of the ang bao is a QR code that directs to a page describing each of the 37 miracles with Scripture references.
These packets can be used not just to share the Gospel with pre-believers but also for believers to learn more about the miracles of Jesus.
“It’s also like a little Bible study for Christians to learn the Word,” added Hemdi.
Peter hopes that, through interaction with this ang bao, people will come to know God as a miracle working God.
The ang baos are available online here.
Share the splendour of God’s creation: The Commandment Co
God’s creation was the inspiration for The Commandment Co’s “Bountiful Blessings” ang bao series this year.
“We were deeply moved by the splendour of God’s creation,” said Edwin Lim, founder of The Commandment Co.
This year’s ang bao series highlights God’s creativity in nature. Photo by The Commandment Co.
“The magnificence and greatness of His artwork are evident in every aspect of life, yet there is a harmony and peace that words cannot describe.”
The ang baos can be repurposed as wall decor. Photo: The Commandment Co.
The team landed on the idea of a series of five scenic imageries showcasing God’s creativity: Pastoral scenes of lakes and countryside, rolling hills and majestic mountains, as well as a cityscape of apartment buildings nestled among verdant trees.
“We hope these ‘Bountiful Blessings’ packets will plant the seed for dialogue about God when they receive this gift.”
The Commandment Co used pastel colours as an alternative to the conventional red so the packets are suitable for use throughout the year. These envelopes can even be repurposed as home décor for walls and door entrances.
Each design incorporates a universal blessing of 福 (bountiful blessings), 春 (spring, symbolising bountiful life), 满 (abundance for bountiful favour), 乐(bountiful joy) and 喜(bountiful happiness).
“We hope these ‘Bountiful Blessings’ packets will spark meaningful conversations inspired by a wish for peace or happiness,” Edwin shared. “Our intention is for recipients to sense the heartfelt blessings woven into the design, and plant the seed for dialogue about God when they receive this gift.”
Buy the ang baos online here or at The Commandment Co’s store at 231 Bain Street (Bras Basah Complex), #04-41, Singapore 180231.
Include blessings of abundance: Cornerstone Community Church
In designing its ang baos this year, Cornerstone Community Church lifted from the rich imageries in the Bible, particularly in passages emphasising blessings and harvest.
The vivid colours, intricate patterns and symbols of abundance highlights Scriptural principles of reaping what one sows, and the promise of God’s blessings. The designs are founded on the Chinese characters: 春 (spring), 贺 (congratulation), 庆 (celebration) and 平安 (peace).
These ang baos lift from the rich imagery of Bible passages emphasising blessings and harvest. Photo: Cornerstone Community Church
“We envision these ang baos to be tangible reminders of gratitude and the spiritual journey,” Tan Ruiping, Cornerstone media director told Salt&Light.
“We encourage our members to engage with the recipients by including personal prayers, wishes, or expressions of thanks in the envelopes as they fill them.”
This interaction has the potential to transform the ang baos into vessels of blessings to foster a sense of community and connection, said Ruiping.
The ang baos are available next week online or at the Faithworks Bookstore, 11 East Coast Road, #02-22 The Odeon Katong, Singapore 428722.
Connect through personalised prayer: Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church
Can I pray for you?
“The potential blessings that can flow out of this connection is beyond our wildest imagination.”
This is a simple question that can draw deep, emotional responses.
Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church (BBTC) rolled out its “Can I Pray For You?” prayer movement with customised ang baos that can kickstart Chinese New Year conversations.
The cover of the ang bao features a list of prayer requests that recipients can select.
“Behind this simple question is a powerful God waiting to be connected to your loved ones,” says BBTC Senior Pastor Chua Seng Lee. “The potential blessings that can flow out of this connection is beyond our wildest imagination.”
“Behind this simple question is a powerful God waiting to be connected to your loved ones,” says BBTC Senior Pastor Chua Seng Lee of the “Can I Pray for You?” movement.
The concept is to use the ang bao to start a conversation, then intercede for recipients in prayer so that the love of God can be introduced to them.
Through this campaign, several members of BBTC have stepped up to pray for their pre-believing loved ones and even strangers on the street.
Through these simple prayers, the Gospel is being shared and people are coming to Christ, Ps Seng Lee said.
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