Watch Video and Pray For the Persecuted Church in China on Third Anniversary of Pastor Wang Yi’s Imprisonment.
December 9th marks the three-year anniversary of the government’s raid on Early Rain Church and the imprisonment of their pastor Wang Yi. Watch this brief video and pray for the persecuted church in East Asia and Wang Yi who is still in prison.
Dear Friend,
On December 9, 2018 more than 50 police arrested and took to police stations in Chengdu, China more than 200 Early Rain church members and leaders – including students and children. The police also raided their school and seminary libraries to remove an estimated 50,000 Christian books.
Pastor Wang Yi was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment for “subversion of state power” and “illegal business operation.” He has been jailed since December 9, 2018. His wife Jiang Rong and son Shuya Wang have been placed under close surveillance since December 2018 and are banned from contacting others, so no one knows where they live. The Scriptures speak a lot about the persecution of followers of Jesus:
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim3:12). Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt 5:11-12).“If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Hebrews 13:3 tells us to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”
The early church father, Tertullian of Carthage (220 AD) said “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” When she ceases to bleed, she ceases to bless. She can thrive through persecution, but never through peace and security.
May I ask you a favor? Will you please take a few minutes to watch this brief video above that will give you a rare, inside look at what persecution looks like in the underground church in East Asia today?
Then will you please consider taking some focused time to pray for our brothers and sisters facing persecution in East Asia? Below is a helpful prayer guide that our friends at China Partnership prepared using 3 headings:
1) Pray for individual believers and their families,
2) Pray for pastor and church leaders, and
3) Pray for God’s Name and Kingdom to advance
Thanks so much for considering this.
For the King!
Steve Childers
President & CEO
Pathway Learning
PRAYER GUIDE
1. Pray for Individual Believers 为受逼迫的信徒祷告
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:1-2
“我们既有这许多的见证人，如同云彩围着我们，就当放下各样的重担，脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程，仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣。他因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在神宝座的右边。” — 希伯来书12:1-2
Prayer Points祷告事项:
Pray for the imprisoned & their families. (Heb 13:3) 为被囚的牧者和弟兄姐妹和他们的家人祷告。（来13:3）
Pray for believers threatened & terrorized by the police. (Heb 13:6) 为被警察骚扰威胁恐吓的弟兄姐妹祷告。（来13:6）
Pray for the weak & the fearful. (Heb 4:15-16) 为心灵身体软弱惧怕的肢体祷告。（来4:15-16）
Pray for those who have lost jobs or homes for their faith. (Heb 11:16) 为因持守真道而丢了工作或被逼搬迁的肢体祷告。（来11:16）
2. Pray for Pastors and Church Leaders为牧者和教会同工领袖祷告
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known...” —Colossians 1:24-25
“现在我为你们受苦，倒觉欢乐，并且为基督的身体，就是为教会，要在我肉身上补满基督患难的缺欠。 我照神为你们所赐我的职分做了教会的执事，要把神的道理传得全备。” — 歌罗西书1:24-25
Prayer Points:
祷告事项：
Pray for churches strategizing next steps to navigate persecution. (Matt 10:16; Ps 37: 5-6) 求父赐智慧给教会制定策略，计划如何应对逼迫。 （太10:16; 诗37:5-6）
Pray for strength for pastors ministering to dispersed churches. (Phil 4:13; Col 1:29) 求父保守牧者和他们的家庭，加牧者心力体力牧养因逼迫而分散的教会。 （腓4:13; 西1:29）
Pray that God will teach pastors how to exhort the suffering church with his Word. (Eph 6:19; Col 2:1-2) 求父教导牧者如何以祂的话语牧养鼓励教会在苦难中成长。（弗6:19; 西2:1-2）
Pray for pastors’ knowledge and love for Christ to deepen through suffering. (Phil 1:9-10, 3:8) 求父让牧者和教会同工在患难中得以更经历认识基督，爱祂的心越发增长。 （腓1:9-10, 3:8）
3. Pray for God’s Kingdom to Advance为福音广传，神国前进祷告
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” —1 Peter 1:8-9
“你 们 虽 然 没 有 见 过 他 ， 却 是 爱 他 ； 如 今 虽 不 得 看 见 ， 却 因 信 他 就 有 说 不 出 来 、 满 有 荣 光 的 大 喜 乐 ；并 且 得 着 你 们 信 心 的 果 效 ， 就 是 灵 魂 的 救 恩 。” - 彼得前书1:8-9
“Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” —Philippians 1:18
“无论怎样，基督究竟被传开了。为此我就欢喜……” — 腓立比书1:18
Prayer Points:
祷告事项：
Pray that God will empower the church to love and witness to those who hurt them. (Rom 12:19-20) 求父赐教会能力去爱那些伤害他们的人， 并且见证基督。（罗12:19-20)
Pray for the light of Christ to reach the darkest places—in prisons and among the persecutors. (1 Pet 2:9) 求父借着逼迫让基督的光照进最黑暗的地方，临到监狱和逼迫者的中间 。（彼前2:9)
Pray for an overflowing of joy, hope, faith, and love as the church participates in the sufferings of Christ. (1 Pet 1:6-9) 求父以祂的喜乐，盼望，和爱充满与基督一同受苦的弟兄姐妹的心，刚强他们的信心。(彼前1:6-9)
Pray for the church to persevere and be kept blameless until the gospel is proclaimed to all and Christ returns. (1 Thess 5:23; 1 Pet 1:13-16) 求父帮助弟兄姐妹依靠祂心存忍耐，保守他们无可指摘, 直到福音传遍，基督再来。（帖前5:23; 彼前1:13-16）
WAYS TO GIVE
Online
Give using your credit card or bank draft through our secure online form
Phone
Call us at 407-682-6942
Mail
Send a check:
Pathway Learning, P.O. Box 2062
Winter Park, FL 32790
Matching Gift
Your employer may also be able to double your gift.
Give a Gift of Stock
You may give securities either by transfer of the certificate of ownership or through account transfer arranged by your broker. In each case, you avoid the tax on any potential gain and receive a deduction for the full fair market value of securities. To give a gift of stock, email us at staff@pathwaylearning.org, call us at 407-682-6942, or write us at P.O. Box 2062, Winter Park, FL 32790.