Pastor “Bike” And His Wife Released From China Prison

According to Baptist Press: Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan and his wife were released from Public Security Bureau custody but cannot return to Bejiing until after the Paralympics, September 16. Thank you to all who have prayed and/or signed the petition. China Aid delivered this petition with 57,000 signed names.

However, the work is far from done as other Chinese Christians are still imprisoned and even violently tortured for their faith. We must let China know this is not acceptable. Especially in light of their most recent hosting of the Olympic games, which is a sign of unity among nations, not the taking away of human rights.

My deep thanks to Baptist Press for continuing to feature what is going on in China in their articles. The more people who are made aware, the more can be done by Christians.

Remember Christ said in Matthew 16:18:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

*emphasis mine

Persecution of Chinese Churches Will Increase After The Olympics

From Baptist Press: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–The future of the persecuted church in China will be “darker before it becomes brighter,” Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association, told Baptist Press as the Olympics drew to a close in Beijing.

“Given the increased persecution before and even during the Olympic Games in spite of international attention, we can only expect persecution to increase in severity in the year following the Olympic Games,” Fu said.

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, also acknowledged a challenge ahead for the Chinese citizenry now that thousands of tourists have headed for home.

“We need to pray for our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ as they struggle in their country for freedom of conscience and freedom of faith,” Land said in a statement to Baptist Press.

According to Bo Fu of China Aid, in this same article, the church which President Bush and other visitors attended was staged. Regular parishioners were replaced with Chinese government officials. Bibles were confiscated from Americans, who were detained, then released. To read other activities that occurred during this time, click here.

I have not given my opinion of the countries who persecute Christians, take away human rights, hosting the Olympics. It is clear that we should not support countries such as Beijing hosting the Olympics. The persecution goes on even during such events. I cannot in all good conscience support such a move, although I did watch and route for the Americans this year, it was difficult in light of the information I had concerning these activities. Many I have highlighted on this blog. This is my personal conviction, and each person must decide for themselves what they should do.

If you feel led and have the means, please give to organizations such as China Aid and The Voice of the Martyrs. If you do not feel led to do this or cannot due to resources, I do ask that each Christian pray for the people of China. Pray for God to send those who will continue to give the gospel despite persecution, and that many will be saved. Pray for the Government officials of China, that God would allow them to hear and receive the Gospel, because it’s the power of hearing the gospel, the Holy Spirit doing a work, that will change this country and other countries like China. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Pastor Behind Olympic Prayer Bands Arrested In China

This From The Voice Of The Martyrs:

Earlier this year, Pastor Bike pleaded with VOM staff to ask Christians to pray for persecuted Christians in China during the Olympics. The pastor voluntarily preaches the gospel openly in China despite being persecuted. He has asked for his identity to be revealed to bring continued attention to the persecution of Christians in Communist China.

Thanks to Pastor Bike’s inspiration and the commitment of concerned Christians across the United States, more than 800,000 prayer bands have been circulated. On Aug. 6, Pastor Bike was arrested while trying to deliver medicine to his ailing wife. His wife and another pastor were also arrested. We have also learned this week that Chinese officials are opening a full investigation of the Olympic Prayer Bands that were distributed to house church members within China. Despite this increased pressure from Chinese authorities, Chinese Christians continue to ask for prayer and to make their plight known.

Please, please pray. Pastor Bike was involved in the inspiration of the “Pray for China” bracelets.  Think about it, if this is happening while the Olympics are going on, with Americans present, what will happen after the Olympics?

Today Is The Beginning Of The Olympics/Support Those In The Olympics/Pray For China

If you hear that there is no persecution in China, I recommend going to the The Voice of Martyrs website, listen to the recent phone interview with Charisma magazine which is the first item listed on the VOM site. It is rather lengthy, but pack full of information, then begin to pray for those who will be persecuted and are being persecuted for the gospel.

Charisma magazine also has a cover story in their August issue on the persecuted churches in China.

Pray for the Southern Baptists and other Christians who are in Beijing that they will be able to reach people with the gospel as well as observe what is actually going on in China. May God use them mightily. Pray for the Christian athletes that they too will be used by God as only He can do.

On another note, I want to express my appreciation to Baptist Press and the direction it has been going lately by publishing letters from missionaries such as Lottie Moon, Bertha Smith, Hudson Taylor, and other missionaries. It shows the heart of those who could be nothing else but God called missionaries. They have been a blessing to read.

Baptist Press: House, Bush Send Signal To China Concerning Human Abuses

WASHINGTON (BP)–The U.S. House of Representatives and President Bush have signaled to China’s Communist regime its violations of religious liberty and other human rights will not be forgotten as the opening of the Summer Olympics in Beijing nears.

The House voted 419-1 in support of a resolution calling on China to ends its human rights abuses before the Olympics, which open officially Aug. 8. That July 30 vote by the House followed by a day a White House meeting Bush had with five Chinese freedom advocates.

Both actions received strong criticism from China’s Foreign Ministry. Read the rest here.

It’s a start, but I agree with Nina Shea of the US Commission on International Freedom, more needs to be done. China seems to think we are sticking our nose where it doesn’t belong. I say we would be wrong not to.

Please continue to pray for those who are being persecuted in China, continue to let your view be heard to those in the White House, and other government officials.  If we do nothing, the results will be nothing.

Human Rights In China Deteriorating Even With Olympic Games

From BBC: The human rights situation in China has deteriorated, not improved, with its hosting of the Olympic Games this year, campaigners Amnesty International say.

It documents the use of “re-education through labour”, the suppression of rights activists and journalists, and the use of arbitrary imprisonment.

A spokesman urged world leaders due to attend the Games, opening in 10 days, to speak out against the violations.

Chinese officials were not commenting on the report ahead of its publication.

As much as I support the Olympics, watching them, cheering for the USA teams, 2 participants who are from Oklahoma, it’s been difficult for me this time. China has supplied arms to the Sudan government, and human rights have always been an issue in China. Now they have gone back on the agreement they made in order to host the Olympics.

According to the BBC, there have been reports that Chinese Activists have been locked up, people have been made homeless, journalists have been detained, beatings in jail have increased.

There will be those who say this is not our problem, but I believe that those who say nothing are just as guilty as those doing the actual crimes. It’s hard for me as a Christian not to do or say anything, and I sincerely hope that there are others who feel this way too.

China is denying these allegations but frankly I do not believe them. Amnesty International is not staying silent. Neither should we.

Please Pray For China During The Olympics

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing China.

Although God is doing a mighty work among the Chinese people, many are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ by being ostracized, fired from their jobs, and house church leaders are being evicted from their homes in Beijing.

This treatment is not limited to adults or church leaders, but to children as well. Orphans who now have Christ as their Lord and Savior are being evicted from orphanages, being refused admission to public schools.

As the United States participates in the Olympics, please join in praying for those Christians who are now being persecuted for the name of Jesus Christ. For more information and how you can help go to Voice of the Martyrs web site. Thank you in advance.