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Prayer Updates
A Diverse Group of Leaders
What is your image of a Chinese house church leader? An elderly man who has spent many years in prison for his faith, but continues to boldly preach the Good News in spite of persecution?
A “Great Wall” of Stability
In early March, Chinese President Hu Jintao called for a "Great Wall of stability" in Tibet. In contrast, the Dalai Lama expressed his concern that, "At any moment there could be an explosion of violence."
Conditions Still Tight
"For more than 50 days he was tortured in the most inhumane ways. He was forced to lie naked on the floor for 13 days and nights while he was tortured with electric shock batons and toothpicks were used to pierce his sexual organs. He wrote, ‘The electric shock baton was put all over me. And my full body, my heart, lungs and muscles began jumping under my skin uncontrollably. I was writhing on the ground in pain, trying to crawl away. Wang (one of the interrogators) then shocked me in my genitals'." - extract from a China Aid report about Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng
From our International Director
Selwyn Hughes quotes Joseph M. Stowell as saying that the primal call of authentic Christianity is to follow Jesus. He adds: “He [Jesus] is looking for followers. So He turns again today, looks over His shoulder at us, and calls out as He did on Galilee’s shore: ‘Come on … follow Me.’”
AM-CCSM News
Can you get the word out about the opportunities to serve in China? We have exciting short- and long-term opportunities to bring the message of the Gospel to China, but so far this year applications are very limited.
Environmental Pollution
An official from China’s National Population and Family Planning Commission recently blamed environmental pollution for an alarming rise in the number of babies with birth defects. An earlier report said that the rate of defects had risen 40% between 2001 and 2006 – from 104.9 to 145.5 per 10,000 births.
Mission at our Doorstep
Chinese students seeking for life’s meaning are not just to be found in China. Thousands of young people are now leaving China in order to study at universities and colleges overseas.
Deep Hunger
A survey of college students (quoted in ‘Pray for China’) on “What would make you consider committing suicide?” revealed the following saddening statistics:
Opportunities and Challenges
Thank you for your prayers for the get-together for our China-based co-workers that took place in February. It was a special time, described by one participant as “a great time of fellowship, teaching, refreshment and relaxation.”
Maintaining Social Stability
In January, China's exports were down 17.5% from a year earlier, marking the biggest drop in more than 10 years. Imports were down 43.1%. "The numbers are terrible. The environment is awful," said Ken Peng, an economist at Citigroup. "The pressure on unemployment will be huge" (BBC).