Our partners at Release International sent out a unique 'prayer-a-day' for the month of August. This has something you can pray for China for every day in August. I encourage you print this out and use these prayers each day. You can start any day you like. It will only take a few minutes, and imagine how you can impact the world by bringing China before our all-powerful God.
Here are the prayers for Day 27 through Day 31.
Day 27 Some house church leaders are misinterpreting the Bible and leaving their families behind to serve the Lord. They want to respond to China's urgent need for Christian ministers '" but they may pay a heavy personal price: family breakdown. Pray that church leaders in China will find the right balance between family priorities and spreading the good news.
Day 28 Cai Zhuohua, a house church pastor from Beijing, was jailed between 2004 and 2007 for distributing Bibles for free in poor areas where people could not access Bibles or could not afford them. The Chinese government recently held an exhibition in the US to try to prove that China not only has sufficient Bibles but is a major exporter of them. Pray that God will provide sufficient Bibles to meet the needs of believers in China.
Day 29 Jiang Zongxiu, 34, was beaten to death in 2004 for carrying Scriptures: she left behind an eight-year-old son. Her family is still waiting for justice: Jiang's body has not been returned to her family and her attackers have not been punished. Pray that Jiang's family will be comforted by the love of Christ and will see justice done.
Day 30 Despite its recent economic downturn, China is the world's fastest-growing economy '" a position which carries considerable political clout. Pray that, while much of the international community courts this emerging superpower, nations of influence will continue to put pressure on Beijing to clean up its human rights record in the future.
Day 31 The Beijing Olympics have inspired churches and believers all over the world to pray for China. Pray that this prayer campaign will gather momentum and that the Lord will bring revival to the nation of China.
On August 6, just two days before the Olympics began, Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan was arrested, along with his wife and a coworker. In response to these arrests, The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association have launched a petition drive to free these three Christians and to let the Chinese government know that the world is aware that these Christians are being detained.
Pastor Bike, as he is affectionately known, is considered to be one of the most outspoken evangelists in China. He is a bold believer willing to cross borders, hand out Christian literature and Bibles, share Christ with those under age 18 and lead thousands to Christ. All these actions are considered "illegal," in communist China. Earlier this year, Pastor Bike pleaded with VOM staff and China Aid Association to create the China Prayer Bands so that Christians in the free world could know more about persecution of Christians in China.
I don't know about you all, but I absolutely LOVE it when children stand for Jesus! The Voice of the Martyrs Kids of Courage ministry is one of my favorite because anytime I want I can visit www.kidsofcourage.com and read about brave and passionate children who love Jesus. Isn't that cool :)
Four Athletes Whose Testimonies Were Distributed in the Underground Church in China Win Medals and Give Praise to God 2008-08-26T13:24:04-07:00 Contact: Steve McConkey, 608-469-7956 MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Starting in 2006, 4 Winds Christian Athletics distributed the testimonies of Olympic track and field athletes worldwide, including in the underground Chinese church. Outside groups that work with the underground church asked to take the testimonies into the underground church, estimated to be over 100 million people according to China Aid and the Voice of the Martyrs. Four of the athletes whose testimonies were consistently distributed won five Olympic medals: Stephanie Brown Trafton (discus gold), Bryan Clay (decathlon gold), Allyson Felix (200m silver, 4x400m gold), and Nick Willis from New Zealand (1500m bronze). Stephanie and Nick were not expected to gain medals according to the experts. 4 Winds never wavered through the year leading up to the Olympics. In November, when a rumor circulated about Bibles being banned in the Olympic village, 4 Winds took a stand and was quoted in an article from the Associated Press, saying banning Bibles would be a "deep violation." Then in May, 4 Winds took another stand when Franklin Graham preached in the Chinese government's Three-Self Patriotic Movement church and then told people they should not evangelize during the Olympics. Steve McConkey, 4 Winds president, told Reuters, "Christians should use caution and do as God leads" in China during the Olympics. The Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches have thirteen seminaries that teach Marxist liberal theology. The athletes who won medals shared after their performances. Stephanie Brown Trafton told NBC after her gold medal win in the discus, "I was singing a gospel song based on the Bible verse Joshua 1:9. This verse actually carried me to a winning toss and I knew that whatever happened at the end of the day I was not afraid of loss or success. Winning or coming in 10th place did not determine my worth as a person, but my worth in God's eyes is much more than a gold medal." Steve McConkey believes that we should not forget the Christians in China, "We need to keep these people in our prayers and support organizations that help them." 4 Winds Christian Athletics is an evangelistic and teaching ministry in track and field. They offer a website that covers current track and field news. More importantly, 4 Winds operates the first sports apologetic news site called subterraneanNEWS. This part of the website gives people current news and articles countering cults and beliefs that are contrary to Christianity.
Recently, a Saudi member of the religious police cut his daughter's tongue off and burned her to death for converting to Christianity.
The father, who works for the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, killed his daughter following a debate on religion, according to a report by the United Arab Emirates-based Gulf News.
Media organizations in Saudi Arabia are reporting that the victim wrote a blog under the name "Rania" a few days before her murder. According to the Saudi Arabia Ukhdoud news website, the victim wrote that her life became an ordeal after family members grew suspicious about her after a religious discussion with them. She said her brother found some Christian articles written by her as well as a cross sign on her computer screen. Since then he started to insult her and blamed the Internet for pushing her to change her religion. Gulfnews.com reported.
Saudi religious scholars frequently warn against the dangers of Christian Web sites and satellite television, which they say attract young Muslims to change their faith. They [Muslim scholars] decreed that watching these channels or browsing these websites which call for conversion to Christianity by various means is against the teachings of Islam, the Web site reported
"Our contacts have told us of new Christians simply disappearing when their families learned of their conversion," said Todd Nettleton, Director of Media Development for The Voice of the Martyrs, "but now even Arab media outlets confirm the violent response of radical Muslims to Christianity. We pray that someday this man will come to know Christ, and find forgiveness for ending his daughter's life. Our hope is that someday he will see his daughter again, in heaven."
The Voice of the Martyrs supports the evangelism efforts of Christians in Saudi Arabia, despite the great cost.
"We call on Christians everywhere to pray for believers facing intense persecution in Saudi Arabia because of their faith," said Nettleton. "Pray God will encourage them and give them boldness to stand up for Christ."
Carpus was nailed to the stake, and as the flames took hold of him, he joyfully prayed, 'Praise be to thee, O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, that thou didst deem me, a sinner, also worthy to die a martyr as you did!' Then he gave up his soul to heaven.
As Carpus prayed, Agathonica saw the glory of God roll out before him. The heavens opened up to reveal the wedding feast of the Lamb of God, with sumptuous tables spread out before her and Jesus himself standing at its head. Her heart leapt, and she recognized a call from heaven.
She sprang to her feet and shouted, 'This meal has also been prepared for me. I must receive the meal of glory.' A cry came from the stands, 'Have pity on your child, your son!' 'He has God to take care of him,' Agathonica responded, 'for God is the provider for all. As for me, I will go and be with him.' She jumped into the amphitheater, threw off her outer robe, and jubilantly allowed herself to be nailed to the stake. Those standing by burst into tears. They cried, 'This sentence is cruel and unjust!' In the flames, she cried out, 'Lord, Lord, Lord, help me, for I flee unto Thee!' Then she gave up her soul and joined her Lord. It was the year A.D. 165.
Chain reaction. It's that unexpected effect one life has on another'-something inexplicable and unplanned. It began with Carpus, who showed the way of courage to Papylus, as both were tortured for their faith. Then an observer, inspired by the incredible results of their martyrdom, flung herself toward faith by willingly dying at the stake. Today, we see the chain reaction of faith in church revivals and on college campuses. We see it in villages, townships, and communities across several continents where one life spurs another, and yet another, onto greater commitment. How long has it been since you experienced a chain reaction of commitment in your church or community? Pray for revival to start with you'-the most important link in the chain.
The first episode of The Voice of the Martyrs podcast, Persecution Podcast, has just gone live. Listen to news and information on the persecuted church with hosts Todd Nettleton, Mark Sheppard and Mary Sue Leigh. Please check out the program and give us feedback on what you think and what you would like to hear in the future.
The following comes from our friends at VOM Canada. Please remember to pray for Indonesian believers, as they suffer tremendously for their faith in Jesus.
On Sunday, August 17, a group of Muslims stormed a church service in Cipayung, East Jakarta, Indonesia, according to an August 19 report from Compass Direct. About 20 church members, including Pastor Chris Ambessa, were gathered in celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day at the Pentecostal Church of Indonesia when an angry mob gathered outside the church building. Despite efforts to keep them outside, the mob forced its way into the church and overturned furniture. The church members were chased into the street and warned not to return for future services. The mob then erected large banners which called for a ban on churches and religious services. Although citizens are required to get permission before erecting banners, the authorities made no effort to intervene or remove them.
Pastor Ambessa, who has hosted a house church in his home for the past 12 years, recently built a second floor addition to accommodate the growing congregation. On July 3, the Cipayung civil engineering department ordered him to dismantle the second floor. On July 13, he was also ordered to cease all religious activity at his home for an indefinite period of time due to neighbourhood protests and the lack of a Religious Building Permit (IMB).
Pray for Pastor Ambessa and the other Christians in Indonesia. Pray that their church services can continue unhindered. Pray that believers in Indonesia will echo Peter's sentiment and remain determined to obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29).
This story was found on Crosswalk.coms Religion Page today and I thought the statistics were very interesting considering all the controversy under Musharraf.
Francis said that the Christians of Pakistan suffered enormous injustices, discrimination and persecution during Musharraf's rule.
'Christians were not immune from persecution and raw treatment during the tenure of Presidents that preceded Musharraf, but the scale of Christian persecution was worst during Musharraf's rule,' said Francis.
Francis put forward statistics of Christian persecution during Musharraf's rule. He claimed that over 55 churches were attacked and maintained that 58 Christians were murdered while 275 were wounded. Pointing to the misuse of Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws, Francis said that 212 blasphemy cases were registered from October 12, 1999 to August 18, 2008.
He said that some 10 blasphemy-accused had been killed extra-judicially during Musharraf's stint as President. Among the victims of blasphemy-related extra-judicial killings, he said four of them were Christians while the rest were Muslims.
Please remember to keep praying for those suffering in Pakistan.
CODY - A Wyoming man said he never meant to break the law by bringing hundreds of Bibles into China, and that he is not sure what he will do next after customs officials confiscated the books at an airport.
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Klein said he was later told by American embassy officials that he had broken the law and would not be able to bring the Bibles into the country.
"They eventually gave us one Bible each, and said we could pick up the others on our way back out of China," he said.
The Bibles were annotated editions used by pastors for study, Klein said, adding that similar Bibles sold on the black market in China for prices up to the equivalent of six months' salary. He said thousands of pastors in China were waiting for such Bibles.
According to Klein, there are 130 million Christians in China, and 75 million of them lack Bibles. His group distributes free Bibles and offers food and humanitarian aid to poor communities in 20 countries.
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"We feel like what we endured was very minimal compared to what our Chinese brothers and sisters go through every day for the gospel," he said Klein said the trip was not necessarily timed to coincide with the Olympics taking place this week in Beijing, but that it did show what he said was religious persecution in China, despite government denials. Klein said Bibles cannot be taken home by Chinese worshippers, but must stay in state-sanctioned churches.
I like that Klein understands the right perspective on what Christian persecution is, and that he understands that what he experienced was really a horrible inconvenience. He does understand however, that some Chinese Christians are going to jail for their faith.
