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Advent Prayer - China

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Published: Saturday 10 December 2011

Advent Prayer - China

Project(s): 09-780, 09-879

Country: South and East Asia, China

Christ Jesus ... being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing.Philippians 2:5-7

The members of Shouwang Church in Beijing have worshipped in the open for the last six months, in all weathers Source: www.ChinaAid.org and www.HelpSw.org

Shouwang Church, one of the largest unregistered churches (“house churches”) in Beijing, was evicted from its leased meeting space by the government in April. The authorities had repeatedly blocked the church’s attempts to rent or buy premises for holding services. So the Christians took the bold decision to worship in public, and at the time of writing they have been meeting in an open-air plaza for six months. As a result, many church members have been detained, placed under house arrest or deprived of their homes and jobs.

The Chinese government regard the house churches as “unstable social elements” that threaten the building of a “harmonious society”. Often their leaders are arrested and thrown into jail for extended periods, where they may be beaten or tortured. Their members may also be subject to violent attacks. A report published this year showed that persecution of the country’s Christians increased every year between 2005 and 2010.

The authorities permit the practice of Christianity only under the authority of the national, state-controlled churches, and the activities of these denominations are tightly controlled. Because religious belief is seen as incompatible with Communist Party membership, even Christians in the state churches are denied access to almost all highlevel jobs.

Yet despite the restrictions and persecution, the Chinese churches are growing very rapidly. Reliable figures are unavailable, but even the authorities admit that there are over 50 million in the unregistered churches, in addition to the same number in the official denominations. The real number may be twice as high.

Praise the Lord for the remarkable growth of the Chinese churches in recent decades, and pray that this may be maintained. Pray for our brothers and sisters as they face discrimination and restrictions, and especially for those who suffer more acute forms of persecution. Pray for the release of Pastor Shi Enhao, a senior house church leader, and for Gao Zhisheng, a Christian lawyer, who are both in detention; Gao’s wife does not even know if he is still alive. Earlier this year house church pastors petitioned the Chinese parliament calling for religious freedom. Pray that the authorities will respond positively by relieving the pressure on the country’s Christians.

Barnabas Fund projects in China include:

China General Fund (Ref. 09-780) Donate
Support for family of Alimujiang Yimiti, a convert from Islam in prison for his Christian activities (Ref. 09-879) Donate