Dear brothers and sisters:
Peace in the Lord! On September 25th, Shouwang had her twenty-fifth Sunday outdoor worship service. Week after week, one Sunday after another, and we might think that every Sunday will be the same. However, to believers who have a living hope, each Sunday is different, for we will once again experience God’s grace. It is with this living hope that we continue to seek and worship our God together on this past Sunday.
In the past week, many believers were detained at home since Saturday. On Friday night, police from Guangying Police Station took a sister to a hotel for detention. As far as we know, at least fourteen believers were taken away on Sunday morning for going to the planned location to join the outdoor service, either at the spot or on their way there (including a sister from Xinshu Church and a brother from a church in another city). Some individuals were released on the way to police stations or in their company, and the rest of them were sent to seven local police stations of their respective area. Around 0:00am in the morning, police at Zhongguancun Police Station actually took the last four believers under detention out from the basement, drove them to a remote place, and forced them to get off there. A sister was even followed by a car to the place where she stayed that night. As we continue to have outdoor worship, we strongly feel the need to pray for policemen who exercise state power; may they obey the law and enforce the law with justice, and fulfill their responsibility in protecting citizens.
On this past Sunday, a sister whom we all familiar with, though move back to her hometown several months ago, still came to visit us and joined the outdoor service. Thank God for encouraging us through her. Although we are separate physically, we have the same mind and heart to fight together in this battle, and we remember each other as members in Christ. May God remember her, as well as each believer of Shouwang Church, who remembers us in prayers as they moved to a different location for work or study during this period of time. May God also remember each believer of Shouwang Church, who remembers us in prayers as they now live in a different place of this country or in another country.
God is telling us through different things that we are not fighting the battle alone, but together with many other churches and members, who are fighting this battle in different ways. And the most important thing is, Christ himself is fighting for his church. As long as we look to him and wait for him with hope, and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit with pure faith, we then won’t be put to shame. Let us, with this living hope, continue to bow down before God and pray for his guidance for the next stage of outdoor worship service, and pray that he will lead his church and make a way out for his church.
May peace and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the mercy and love of Father God, and the console and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, be with each brother and sister of Shouwang Church and all the churches who remember Shouwang Church in prayers, from this time on and forevermore! Amen.
Beijing Shouwang Church
09/27/2011
China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
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