Suffering Believers in China

At Urbana 2000, I first learned of the need, and the power, of intercessory prayer in regard to the needs of the persecuted and suffering church around the world. That year, I continued to pray for the church around the world through a book titled Operation World.

But since then, sometimes sporadically, I have kept praying by using a weekly email from the Religious Liberty Commission - go to www.worldevangelicals.org to receive it yourself.

This spiritual practice has changed my life - for several reasons:

1. It gives me huge perspective on most of the things that worry me. I tend to worry about stress and my to-do lists, and then I read about people dying for claiming the name of Christ. Duh.
2. It gives me more of God's heart for the world.
3. It draws me into relationship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
4. It keeps me informed of world news that may not get reported on ABC or in the papers; so when I hear about other things on the news about various countries, I am reminded to pray for the spiritual battles going on there as well.
   

So here is the posting for this week. I just try to pray over 1 bullet point per day, and actually look at a world map when I do so. Use Hebrews 13:3 to guide you:

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | No. 517 | Wed 18 Feb 2009

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CHINA: PERSECUTION TO ESCALATE IN 2009
-----------------------------

Protests or 'mass incidents' have been on the rise in China over
recent years. Not having democratic institutions, free media,
openness and due process, this is the way Chinese citizens can
express their anger over corruption, injustice, human rights
abuses, low wages, wealth disparity, workers' rights and the like.
Anger is likely to rise further this year as unemployment reaches
critical levels due to the world economic downturn which is
lessening global demand for Chinese products. Furthermore, a group
of dissident intellectuals published their 'Charter 08' on 10
December 2008 -- a manifesto calling for sweeping political and
human rights reforms. Despite Chinese Communist Party (CCP) efforts
to block access to Charter 08, it has now been signed by more than
2000 Chinese citizens, including numerous prominent intellectuals
and officials. Many China watchers are expecting a sharp increase
in anger, dissent and 'mass incidents' during 2009, with an equally
sharp increase in official reactionary repression.

President Hu Jintao recently ordered his military commanders to
'strengthen military discipline' so as to keep the People's
Liberation Army (PLA) loyal to the CCP through this year of
economic difficulties and emotionally charged anniversaries: the
50th anniversary of the Tibet uprising (10 March); the 20th
anniversary of the June 4 democratic movement; and the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (1
October).

Last week China underwent a UN Human Rights Council 'Universal
Periodic Review'. After delivering a lengthy boast, the Chinese
delegation rejected the criticism levelled at it by a few and
basked in the praise of the majority. China rejected proposals from
countries such as Australia, Germany and Canada that it improve
religious liberty and end torture, the death penalty and arbitrary
detention. Only the accepted proposals are listed in detail for the
report including: Egypt's proposal that the death penalty be
continued; Sudan's proposal that 'reform of re-education through
labour' be pursued 'according to the Chinese system'; Zimbabwe's
proposal that poverty be reduced; and Cuba's proposal that China
continue to crack down on (allegedly) subversive human rights
defenders. In all, the majority voted that China's human rights
record was 'on track'. Naturally China sees this 'victory' as a
vindication of its policy.

Meanwhile, persecution of the Church is escalating. According to
China Aid Association (CAA), house-church Christian Yuan Shenlun
(70), who had already spent 14 years in prison for his faith, was
arrested on 20 January and accused of 'using an evil cult
organisation to obstruct justice'. On 4 February police seized
Christian lawyer Gao Zhisheng from his home in Beijing. Goa, a
former member of both the CCP and PLA, has been arrested before and
during September-October 2007 was tortured so severely he wanted to
die. (See http://chinaaid.org/ .) Gao's present whereabouts are
unknown. Four of 60 house-church leaders arrested in Henan Province
on 11 February remain in custody. On 4 February Compass Direct
(http://compassdirect.org ) reported that the CCP 'has ramped up
efforts both to identify Christians and to portray Christianity as
a subversive foreign force'. This is a very dangerous development.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* God to build, sanctify and refine his Church in China so that in
holiness she may shine as a light in the darkness -- a light
that exposes lies and reveals truth, for the sake of the Kingdom
and glory of God.

* the Holy Spirit to fill all Chinese Church leaders with courage,
faith, insight and wisdom, drawing them deep into his word and
into prayer; may every effort of the CCP to contain the Church
be confounded and that it may in fact continue to grow.

* Yuan Shenlun, Gao Zhisheng and all other Christians in prison
and labour camps for their faith and practice, that they may
experience the fellowship of Christ, and that God's angels will
mercifully restrain the fists and rods that are raised against
them. 'Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out
for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?' (Hebrews
1:14 ESV)

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