Have you been following the Olympics – with all the fanfare and celebration? With everything coordinated and just so? It looks good – and the athletes giving their all, and the spectators enjoying the events – but this is China, and often things are not quite what it seems.
For example: in June 2008, a senior house church leader was detained for several hours – to prevent him from meeting with an EU official in Beijing. Officials closed down his orphanage early this year; his family have been forced to move home more than ten times since Christmas. The government reportedly wants to move the family out of Beijing. Also, a 34 year old mother was beaten to death in 2004 for carrying Scriptures: she left behind an eight-year-old son. Her body has not been returned to her family and her attackers have not been punished.
These are two examples taken from a special edition of Release International’s [RI] 7×7 Prayer Alert. Release International exists to encourage prayer and action in countries where Christians have faced intense persecution: including China. It does this, not only by sending out prayer alerts, but also by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles; and working for justice. The basic message, during the Olympics is that, away from the cameras, China’s unregistered church is bracing itself for yet more persecution – as the government ratchets up its crackdown on so-called ‘illegal religious activities’. Along with others, RI will be interceding for policy reform and Christian revival in this vast communist nation, standing with the persecuted church and asking God to extend His kingdom there.
As far as the two examples given above are concerned, can you pray that the mother’s family will be comforted by the love of Christ and will see justice done. And pray for strength and courage for the senior church leader, his family and four orphans living with them.
More generally, please pray that–while much of the international community courts this emerging superpower (China is the world’s fastest-growing economy) – nations of influence will continue to put pressure on Beijing to clean up its human rights record. Also, noting that 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. After all, despite the authorities’ determination to keep a tight rein on house churches in Beijing, the Olympic Village will have a prayer centre for athletes. A final request (in this article!) please pray that Christian athletes will be bold in sharing their testimonies and the gospel with their fellow Chinese athletes and others involved in the Games.
For more information, please see www.releaseinternational.org