There are huge human rights issues going on in China currently, and the Beijing Olympics aren’t really going to fix them. But I thought this might be a good time to be praying for Christians (and others) who are being persecuted in China for their beliefs.

I’ve posted on this on the Sola Panel, but I thought this might be a good place to invite people to post specific points to pray about, and/or to provide links to sites which give good information about Christians in China.

And you can read are feature article which includes an interview with a house church member and journalist Promise Hu.

And you can look at our map of China with recent attacks on house churches listed.

Hi Gordon
Voice of the Martyrs in the US is issuing those wrist bands with Pray For China in both English and Chinese.

I’m sorry this isn’t being done in Australia, and was reduced to issuing our congregation with invisible ones a couple of weeks ago.

Jeremy Halcrow - 04 August 2008 01:39 PM

And you can read are feature article which includes an interview with a house church member and journalist Promise Hu.

Thanks for the link to the article, Jeremy.

Although

Promise’s comments mirror the sweet and sour stories that have come out of Beijing in recent months

D’oh! Doesn’t your reporter know that ‘sweet and sour’ is gwei-lo food!

;-)

I notice that today’s SA Breaking news includes a link asking us to remember persecuted Christians, facing crackdowns under the guise of Olympic security.

Did anyone catch the ABC’s show “qanda,” hosted by Tony Jones, which featured Peter Garret and Bronwyn Bishop?

I almost fell off my chair as “committed Christians” were spoken of by Tony Jones and Bronwyn Bishop in a positive light!  It is these “committed Christians” who have been (and continue to) fighting for human rights and religious freedoms in China, sometimes at great personal cost.

Our ladies bible study has a “feature spot “ after opening announcements and before the actual study. A volunteer features a persecuted church and it’s been China on and off for a while. We then pray for the church in that country. I highly recommend doing this. Last year we were (and remain) highly committed to Burma. It was amazing how God answered those prayers. It’s a great way to uphold the persecuted church in prayer and equip others in bible study to do that in their own private quiet time.

I’ve been hoping that the John 3:16 banner which features at so many American sporting events, will make an appearance at these Olympics. How the Chinese authorities is a question I sometimes ponder.

Onya Gordon for this prayer request! And remember to watch ABC’s “Compass” om Sunday night about various religions in China.

David McKay - 04 August 2008 01:51 PM

Hi Gordon
Voice of the Martyrs in the US is issuing those wrist bands with Pray For China in both English and Chinese.

I’m sorry this isn’t being done in Australia, and was reduced to issuing our congregation with invisible ones a couple of weeks ago.

David (and others) I’ve just read that one of the men behind this idea has been arrested.

Please pray for him and others in his situation.