(Hong Kong – May 14, 2024) This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Hong Kong Christians have drafted a commemorative prayer and initiated a joint signature campaign, with many prominent figures in the church signing it. The prayer, titled “Amidst the silence, we hear tearful prayers; Watching through the long night, we see the light of grace,” is currently open to the public for signature until May 19 and will be published in the “Christian Times” on June 2.
The prayer is divided into three parts. In the first part, the prayer begins with verses from the Psalms in the Old Testament, recalling the days of sorrow when ancient Israel was exiled to the Babylonian Empire. They remember the “ruins and rubble” of ancient Jerusalem and how they were scorned and mocked in a foreign land, with tears flowing uncontrollably.
The prayer immediately shifts to recall the brutal scene that took place 35 years ago in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, stating that every June they gather before the throne of grace to pray. The prayer reflects on the past glory of Beijing, with its white jade steps in Tiananmen Square and the shattered stones and collapsed tiles of Chang’an Avenue, lamenting the “hot-bloodedness and passion of so many young lives.”
The prayer then shifts the focus to the current political situation in China, where the same regime has subjected the people to battle hardships for thirty-five years, and where “the suppression and intimidation of power still retains the warmth and memory of history.”
The prayer mourns that in recent years, those in power have even prohibited people from holding candlelight vigils in Victoria Park to commemorate the June Fourth incident. In the face of all manner of helplessness and oppression, Hong Kong Christians picks up their trust in the Lord and prays, saying, “Even if there are no stars tonight, there are no candles to light,” “Let us, in the great light of the Lord’s amazing grace, light a candle in the depths of our souls, to continue their unfinished aspirations in the prayers and shadows, never to be lost or forgotten. O Lord! Let there be light in our hearts.”
In the second part, the prayer closely relates the current situation in Hong Kong to the tragic experiences similar to those faced by the people of the Lord in the past, with the history of suffering repeating itself.
The prayer directly condemns “power extending its rough hands into different corners, instilling fear and intimidation.” It continues, “May the Lord teach us to still hold onto the power of kindness, tolerance, and love.”
The prayer also asks to “mend the rifts in society, safeguarding that righteousness and not allow truth to disappear from the midst of the society.” The prayer is for peace and hope for those who have suffered under the regime’s suppression in recent years, as well as to be a voice for those who have been dispersed, imprisoned, or exiled. These individuals are facing harsh punishment from Beijing for their pursuit of democracy and freedom in Hong Kong; some have fled the city, while others are imprisoned. Those who pray this prayer believe that they will not lose the love of the Lord amid the turmoil and difficulties of their circumstances. On the contrary, they hold onto the promise that “God is with us,” praying that “love remains in their hearts.”
In the third part of the prayer, Christians understand that there will be troubles in the world, but Jesus Christ has left us a precious promise that He has overcome the world. They are thus filled with hopeful anticipation for the coming of the new heaven and new earth, believing that those who endure to the end will be saved. They pray to the Lord to wipe away their tears and to strengthen, help, and support them with His mighty arm, so that they may understand the will of the Lord, discern, believe, and practice it in the midst of the world’s turmoil, awaiting His return.
Under the high pressure of the Beijing regime, the situation in Hong Kong has been extremely peculiar and tense in recent years, worsening day by day. The prayer is not initiated by any individual or organization, but is jointly signed in personal capacity.