Remember Ambassadors

China is in a very interesting situation from the international perspective.  On one hand, its leaders are actively trying to assert their global economic presence by creating alliances and trade agreements with democratic nations, while at the same time, its leaders have a vested interest in maintaining the oppressive system that they have used for decades.  Despite some international pressure, China continues to the present as one of the most oppressive countries in the world from the religious freedom standpoint.  (You can get much more information from China Aid.)

Last week I posted information on the forced abortions that made major news, and also mentioned how Chinese citizens are beginning to wake up to the oppression they have lived under.   China is a mission field ripe for the harvest!

As all of these considerations swirl around, one event looms in the forefront: the 2008 Olympics, which are to be held in Beijing. The Olympics are focusing international attention–and pressure from the human rights front–on the Chinese government.  The next couple months could be critical in determining China's ongoing policies in the realm of persecution.

One way that the pressure is being exerted is coming directly from Christians who want to minister to the Chinese, using the Olympics as their platform for evangelization.  (USA Today reported on this story here.)   Any Christian witness is, of course, a violation of China's policies, but that is not stopping many courageous volunteers.

It is no surprise that China is reacting poorly to this possibility.  During this crucial time, let us pray for China!

Brother Adam Jacobs was one member of the survey team that recently returned from Thailand and Burma.  I was blessed by his testimony from the trip, and wanted to share that with you.

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Brother Gabe,

Thank you for the opportunity to share the blessings of this mission. Let us give thanks and praise to our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST for supplying our needs and safety during the mission, and for HIS ministry that is being fulfilled according to scripture.  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”  (Matthew 28:19-20)

I have had many brothers and sisters ask about the mission since our return, and at first I was lost for words to explain the impact and the ministry that had and is still taking place. I was convicted by the LORD to awe and silence before HIM.

Since then HE has allowed the HOLY SPIRIT to move within my soul to testify of the mighty works that are taking place as the LORD is calling HIS soldiers of faith to step forward and proclaim the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST and how this ministry can change the world, ministering to these precious children and providing for them. JESUS has a special love for these children and it is ever present in their midst, and HIS grace was overwhelming as we stood as listened to the voices of these tiny people singing praise and glory to our Father in Heaven!!! Praise God!!! "God is Good - All the Time "!!!

JESUS touched many hearts that day and covered us with a blanket of humility as each of the 37 children came to us one by one and gave us a hug and thanked us all for coming and bringing the supplies and gifts. Many that could speak our language ask the LORD to bless us!! This was God's love being poured out upon us. Here we have come to minister to these children and they are ministering to us!!! This is the awesome grace of our LORD JESUS as we connect with the members of the Body of Christ!!! Praise God!!!

Brothers and Sisters, there is much fertile ground to till and sow in this part of the world. As we venture to the remote villages in the jungle there are many souls searching and hungry for the Word of our Savior and it is our mission as disciples of CHRIST to confess the life of JESUS that lives within us through the HOLY SPIRIT and to bring the unsaved to the eternal life that our Father in Heaven has given us through the Blood of the Lamb.  “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Here is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” (John 15:7-9)

As we met with the leaders of the village, the main spokesman was not saved. But the prayers are now placed on his heart for salvation, as we prayed for him and his people, and for their safety and protection.  The seed is planted and the LORD'S Word is now being heard as the Bibles written in their language have now been handed out to the men, women and children throughout the villages.

Brothers and Sisters, we covet your prayers for the Karen people and that the name of JESUS will spread as the fire of Pentecost across this nation!!! “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:2)  

Praise God in all things!!!! Give HIM all the praise and glory!!!!

By HIS Grace, Adam Jacobs <><

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Pastor Tim Bunn, one of Remember's Board Members, is traveling through southeast Asia as a part of his vibrant church planting ministry.  One of his fellow travellers is photoblogging the trip, and I thought you might like to see what they are up to.   Right now they are in Cambodia: Post 1 and Post 2.

Please pray for Pastor Tim and his team as they travel and minister! 

***UPDATE***

There are many more updates on this trip now available.  In this one, the team shares a number of testimonies from the persecuted church.

China has been a long-time Christian persecution hotspot, but religion is not the only human right systematically trampled by the Beijing government.  In the past couple of days, though, Chinese citizens have reacted en masse to some of the most aggregious violations.

Last week, a friend e-mailed me about the forced abortions taking place in Guangxi Province in southern China, bordering on Vietnam.  While this is not a persecuted church issue on its face, one of the women forced into an abortion was the wife of a house-church pastor.  At seven months pregnant, she–and around 60 others–was dragged into a Baise City hospital, where her unborn baby was killed.

I can't even imagine what this sister in Christ must be going through.  While China engages in cover ups, the lives of these women, not to mention their children, have been massacred, both emotionally and literally.  They desperately need our prayers.

This outrage has prompted a number of demonstrations, and Chinese authorities have arrested some of the participants.  As strange as it may sound, that gives me hope.  Perhaps the time is coming where those that have been oppressed by China's godless government can break free of that bondage.  Perhaps the time is coming where Christians, so long forced "underground" by vicious persecution, will be able to worship and witness to their entire nation, the most populous on earth.  Perhaps it is almost time for the light to burst forth from the thick darkness.

Let's pray for the perseverence of these saints, and pray that the power of our God would break forth in and through them. 

For More Information–

Guangxi Officials Carry Out Mass Forced Abortions - Background Information, including impact on at least one underground church.

Soothing Lies - Op-Ed by Chuck Colson for The Christian Post. 

China Aid 

Today, over on The Weekly Reminder, I shared some pictures of how the Body of Christ was able to tap an "inconsequential" resource to  bless the children of martyrs at the Freedom House Orphanage.  I hope that the pictures are a blessing here, as well.

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A couple of months ago, I told you about what I called “the power of pocket change.”  A local Charleston medical office, fueled by passionate people, held a drive to use “inconsequential” pocket change to bless the persecuted church.  I put “inconsequential” in quotations, simply because when it was all said and done the money they collected was an amazing blessing to the orphans of martyrs in Freedom House!

I’d like to share some pictures of that blessing with you.

Even these pictures cannot convey the depth of the blessing of this gift.  For children dependent on “missionary barrels” for their daily needs, the fact that the Body of Christ had the generosity to reach out is a reminder of the faithfulness of our God.  It is a reminder to each one that, despite their situation, they can hope in His love and power.

Your prayers are the same encouragement.   The people you are blessing cannot see or hear your prayers in the physical sense, but in a very real spiritual sense they feel the power of intercession on their behalf.  You give them hope where they otherwise have none, strength to fight against principalities and powers, and perseverance to carry on.

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Going to homeschool conferences always helps me remember the freedoms that we take for granted.  Homeschoolers have fought for years for the freedom to educate their children according to the dictates of conscience.

Going back to the founding of the United States, a primary weapon against freedom was taxes, leading to the Boston Tea Party and ultimately, the American Revolution.  The phrase "no taxation without representation" is still echoed all over the country.

In other countries, though, taxation is still used as an tool of oppression, even religious oppression.  From the Koran, for instance, comes the concept of jizya, or protection tax.  Jizya was first used by Muhammed himself against Christians, and is the price demanded of non-Muslims to prevent forcible conversion or death.

Now the jizya is being used to actively persecute Christians in the part of Baghdad that has been predominately Christian.  The militant leaders are demanding money that would be enough to supply a six-person family for an entire month!

For the whole story on this recent development, click here.  Please be in prayer for these suffering believers, faced with an impossible choice!