Beijing Shouwang Church Announcement on May 15th Outdoor Worship Service

Dear brothers and sisters:
Peace in the Lord! On May 15th, Shouwang had her sixth Sunday outdoor worship service. As in the past few weeks, though in different situations, we still worship and seek our Lord with hope.
May 15th, Beijing, sunny. Most of believers were detained at home since Friday, and were not able to go out. Therefore, only a few dozen people arrived at the planned location for outdoor worship on Sunday. Some small groups had Sunday service nearby. Some believers who tried to enter and those who managed to enter the planned location were taken away by plainclothesman waiting there. Other believers who arrived there late were persuaded to leave. As far as we know, thirteen believers were taken away on Sunday morning. They were then sent to ten different local police stations. Different from what happened in the past, believers taken away received a more gentle treatment from the police. Till the evening of 15th, twelve believers were released. On May 16th, the only brother who was still in detention was also released around noon time. This time, no one was sent back to their hometown. And we thank God for guarding and protecting these believers.

However, the spiritual warfare is not over yet, and the battlefield was switched to believers’ home. Most believers who decided to join the outdoor service were restricted at home from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. We rejoiced that we were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we believe. And we thank God for giving us the opportunity to witness for the Lord before those who guard at our door. At the same time, we are thankful for those brothers and sisters, who do not agree on having outdoor service, yet bear with us with patience and remember us in prayers. In fact, they are, like brothers and sisters who insist on having outdoor service, suffering together as members of Shouwang Church during this difficult period. We believe that God allows each of us to be trained in different ways during this difficult time for his church’s good, so that this church can be used by him.
We want to express our gratitude to churches in Beijing and in other places. During this difficult time, you offer your fervent prayers for us before the Lord, and offer brothers and sisters in need other forms of support. We want to especially thank those churches who do not agree with Shouwang on having outdoor service; you put aside theological arguments for now, accept us, and bear with us in Christ’s love during this period of spiritual warfare, and we feel comforted and loved by being a member in Christ’s body.
We need to fix our eyes on our Lord and look to him, for none of those who wait for him will be ashamed. We believe that, only he can make a way out for our church, leading us out of this difficult period.
May peace and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the mercy and love of Father God, and the console and the unifying work 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.
“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.” (Psalm 123:1-2, ESV)
Beijing Shouwang Church
05/18/2011
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