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Olympic Persecution: China Confiscates Bibles
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장부영
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2008-12-05 03:24:06, 조회 : 2,687 |
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Olympic Persecution: China Confiscates Bibles
Customs officials confiscated 315 Chinese Bibles from a Vision Beyond Borders team on Sunday, August 17, 2008. The Bibles were hidden in the group’s suitcases. They were discovered as the group passed through customs in the Kunming airport. Forrest Higginbotham, age 78, an area coordinator in The Voice of the Martyrs’ Voice Volunteer Network (VVN), was a member of the team, along with his grandson, Stephen Constantinou, 15.
The team, led by Patrick Klein of VBB, refused to leave the customs area without the Bibles. Because of past experience, Klein thought the Bibles would be lost if they left them unattended.
The event had significant foreign media coverage. By cell phone from the airport, Patrick told the Associated Press, “I heard that there’s freedom of religion in China, so why is there a problem for us to bring Bibles?” He told them the customs officials said they could only have one personal Bible each.
The group fasted while they waited. Authorities tried to entice them to leave the area to eat. Officials also tried to get them to leave by telling them they needed to go to an office in the city. The Associated Press spoke to a customs official who said they were just “taking care” of the Bibles.
On Monday, with the advice of the U.S. Embassy, the team agreed to leave the airport, with the option of picking the Bibles up when they left the country. In a press release from VBB, Klein reiterated China’s desperate need for Bibles. There are thousands of Chinese believers who do not have Bibles while 30 to 40,000 people in China become Christians every day. “Many pastors don’t even have a Bible,” Patrick said.
Continue to pray that God’s Spirit will penetrate into China and that followers of Jesus will have access to his Word.
Olympic Persecution: Inspiration for Olympic Prayer Band Arrested
Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan, known for traveling across China on a bicycle to evangelize, was arrested by Chinese police just two days before the Olympics began. Pastor Bike was the inspiration for the recent partnership between The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association to create the Olympic Prayer Band.
Pastor Asks for Prayer Band
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.
More about Pastor Bike
Pastor Bike, president of the Chinese House Church Alliance, rode his bike more than 10,000 miles, visiting 24 Chinese provinces to introduce nonbelievers to Jesus Christ. Armed with a Bible and his business card, which declared “Believe in Jesus, Be Granted Eternal Life,” Pastor Bike brought the gospel to thousands of people. He and other Chinese evangelists have been repeatedly harassed by Chinese officials during this Olympic year.
Please pray for the release of Pastor Bike and his wife.
Olympic Persecution: Pastor Re-arrested Sunday, Escapes
Pastor Hua Huiqi, who was evicted from his rental apartment in Beijing on July 2, and subsequently forced to leave China’s capital, was arrested Sunday while trying to attend a service at a state-approved church. The service at the Three Self-Patriotic Movement’s Kuanjie Church was attended by U.S. President George W. Bush. According to China Aid Association, Pastor Hua was walking to the state-approved church early Sunday morning when he was detained by the Chinese police. After about six hours, Pastor Hua took an opportunity and fled. He is now at large. Pastor Hua once had his door welded shut by Chinese police to keep him inside. In another incident, a policeman used a 10-pound hammer to break the locks on his door to evict Pastor Hua and his family including his 90-year-old father. Since that incident a couple of months ago Pastor Hua has been basically homeless. Government officials have labeled Hua a trouble-maker and stated their intention was to detain Hua until after the Olympic Games.
Source: China Aid Association
Please pray for Pastor Hua and all the Chinese Christians who have been persecuted during this Olympic season.
Olympic Persecution: Chinese Pastor Appealing Labor Camp Sentence
Pastor Zhang Zhongxin is appealing his two-year sentence to a reeducation labor camp. In July, Chinese authorities convicted him of being a member of a cult, organizing Sunday school activities and sharing the gospel. Since Pastor Zhang’s imprisonment, members of his church have also been imprisoned and others have been harassed by police. In addition, Bibles and Christian materials have been confiscated from their homes. In 2005, Zhongxin established The Rainbow Missions Fellowship and Timothy Bible training school, in Jining city, Shandong Province, where Christian leaders are trained. His next hearing is Aug. 14.
Source: China Aid Association
Please pray for Pastor Zhang and all the Chinese Christians who have been persecuted during this Olympic season.
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