TROUBLE FOR THE OLYMPICS IN BEIJING

International consternation reigns throughout the world as China’s worst nightmare has come to pass- demonstrations against the government just before the Olympics scheduled to begin August 8^th. For months China has been restricting religious leaders from house churches and other dissidents in an effort to avoid any public displays of antagonism against the government. China has badly miscalculated world reaction to mass arrests and imprisonment, and most of all, the cruel suppression of Tibetans which ended with as many as 130 deaths. It was also totally unexpected that the Olympic Torch carried around the world would cause such upheavals as in England, Spain and Los Angeles. China now fears that these demonstrations forecast the possibility of violent opposition in Beijing during the 2008 Games.     

The fierce and violent demonstrations that caused world reaction resulted from China’s worst crackdown against Tibetan monks in Lhasa in nearly two decades.

According to the Associated Press, Tibetan sources claimed more than 80 killed and 70 injured. China reports the death of 10 people. AP reported on Hong Kong TV that some 200 military vehicles each carrying 40-60 armed soldiers entered the city of Lhasa for the purpose of quelling the riots. The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, has denounced this suppression as “cultural genocide” and he has called for an international investigation. But these demonstrations are not only confined to Tibet. Five time zones away from the capitol in the former Silk Road oasis of Hetian, 100,000 Uighur Muslims demonstrated against China’s iron grip of repression.  According to Newsweek April 14, 2008, “The summer’s Games were meant as a graduation ceremony for China’s ascension to superpower status. Beijing is in danger of flunking.”

What then is the church’s responsibility at this time?

• First and foremost is the urgent need for prayer. Join thousands of churches around the world in praying for true religious freedom for everyone in China and the protection and release of political and religious individuals including hundreds of house church leaders.
• Secondly, pray that the unprecedented printing and circulation of the Bible in Chinese will continue and be the means of hundreds of thousands of people coming to Christ.
• Thirdly, continue your financial support to the thousands of individuals working in China as tentmakers, and pray for their protection and continued opportunity to live and work in China.
• Fourthly, write a letter to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC or Beijing, politely letting your voice of dissatisfaction over their policies be registered. The Chinese government is listening.     

JERUSALEM – OUR GOAL

While turmoil reigns in the courts of Beijing, God’s prayer partners need to redouble their efforts to pray for the church in China. The disquieting political and religious repression brings to the memory of many believers, the horrible days of the Cultural Revolution when hundreds of thousands of believers were imprisoned and untold numbers laid down their lives for Jesus. A month ago in Shangdong Province, 21 prominent Christian leaders were sentenced to re-education through labor in what has been described as the largest mass sentencing of house church leaders in 25 years! The vision of taking the gospel all the way back to Jerusalem originated in the hearts of men imprisoned for the gospel’s sake. Pray that these leaders will not lose sight of the goal of planting churches along the old Silk Road which leads through dozens and dozens of Muslim countries. Pray for trainees who are presently engaged in preparation for a move westward into hostile territory, and pray for those already in some of those countries living their call to be witnesses for Christ regardless of the cost. Continue to support these training centers with your financial support. If you don’t know how to do this, please write to the editor and request information which is best not to divulge in this public report.

In time for wide distribution for the Olympic Games in Beijing is the newly released Struggle and Triumph DVD by Athletes In Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. This 26 minute DVD features athletes from Kenya, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and the USA with exciting Olympic footage. In addition to a great passion for their sport, they share another passion, from which they draw strength for the competition. Here is a very special tool that can be used in China or anywhere to point people to Jesus Christ. It is available in 40 languages making it an ideal gift for athletes around the world! You are urged to check out the web site http://www.struggleandtriumph.com for a full review and how to obtain it and use it. Every person and church should begin to DREAM BIG and pray that this DVD will open thousands of hearts in China and the world.