Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs, USA says the problem is two-fold. There are problems both with the Church and the government.

The Church’s Neglect

1 Corinthians 12 talks about the Body of Christ. The Church should be eagerly watching and caring for every member. However, often the Church does not see or seek out those actively suffering with persecution.

(Image courtesy of VOM USA)

Nettleton says, “It’s a misapplication of Scripture, which calls us when one part of the body is suffering, the other parts of the body are supposed to feel that. If we are cut off, [we] can’t feel that and so there’s the aspect of the Church and why doesn’t the Church pay more attention?”

Some of that answer may be ignorance. Voice of the Martyrs, USA seeks to change that. One of their purposes is, “To promote the fellowship of all believers by informing the world of the faith and courage of persecuted Christians, thereby inspiring believers to a deeper level of commitment to Christ and involvement in His Great Commission.”

However, the Church is not alone in a quiet response.

The Government’s Disinterest

Government leaders do not often actively pursue these issues for several reasons. Nettleton details two of those reasons.

1. Government officials work for re-election. Many elected officials do what they believe voters want to see. Nettleton says, “I think in some cases, it is, they don’t think their voters care about that. And they work for voters. And so we as voters, we need to let them know this is a priority to us. This is something we think about when we go to the ballot box.”
2. America is in debt. Telling a foreign government to change their laws and treat Christians better is tricky when we owe them more than we can pay. Nettleton explains, “It’s hard for us to do that because the borrower is the servant of the lender. And so, there is an economic reason why some of our government officials are hesitant to raise the issue of persecution with foreign governments.”

“This is a chance for us to affect their behavior.”

(Image courtesy of VOM USA)

There are ways to help believers around the world who are facing persecution. One way is by seeking change through political means. Voters in democratic nations wield a lot of power.

Nettleton says that after speaking with a congressman he realized that seeking out officials and calling or writing letters really does matter. Each call is recorded and cataloged. Officials are given a record on what constituents are asking about and eventually it affects their actions.

“So it really does make a difference, that we have a voice and that we let them know and we ask questions we ask educated questions about you know, special cases.”

Get Involved

You can make a difference. Go to persecution.com to learn more about Christian persecution worldwide and how you and your Church can help.

Also get involved politically. Nettleton states, “You know, as Americans, we have an opportunity to have a voice in our political process. Hopefully, our faith in Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him affects how we see the issues that we get an opportunity to have a voice in. And so hopefully, the things we believe the Scriptures that we’re reading, and our prayer life is going to affect how we interact with our politicians. It’s also going to affect how we vote for our politicians.”

Call your congressman with specific requests for helping persecuted Christians around the world. Make your voice heard.

But most of all, pray. Pray for the encouragement of believers facing trials. Pray that those who have a voice would stand for those who are being silenced.

(Header image courtesy of VOM USA)

We read about the incarnation in Scripture and identify with the excitement felt by the shepherds who heard good news of great joy. However, there are many Deaf who struggle to understand how the God who speaks relates to them.

A God Who Understands Sign Language

Marisa Sorenson, International Communication Coordinator for DOOR International, explains that for Deaf people, the Gospel can seem far off. Growing up, other Deaf people would express to Sorenson that they didn’t see God as being for the Deaf.

“They would say, Oh, yeah, well, God is hearing he doesn’t understand sign language. He’s just in churches for hearing people,” Sorenson says. “And I think because of that a lot of Deaf people, you know, they see deaf or hearing individuals as using their voice to pray. They use their voice to preach. They see a Bible that’s in a written language that represents a spoken language that is hearing, right? So, they assume that God doesn’t understand sign language.”

(Image courtesy of DOOR International)

However, Sorenson notes that this is changing in the US as well as in the global Church. Increasingly people are becoming aware of the need for Deaf ministries in both secular and religious areas.

Increasing Deaf Ministry

There are special visits for children with a Santa Claus who understands American Sign Language (ASL). There are colleges and universities offering degree programs in ASL. ASL is offered as an world language available for study. The advancements are encouraging, but perhaps most crucial are increased representation and awareness within the Church.

One example of this is at Finishing the Task 2019. This conference in early December was met with increased enthusiasm by the deaf community. Attendance was up from three people in 2018 to about 50 in 2019.

Sorenson says, “It’s very exciting. It’s a huge movement that’s starting here at Finishing the Task really. Where people, and when I say people I mean leaders, at Finishing the Task were starting to realize the need for Deaf people groups. They’re starting to realize the need to reach these Deaf individuals, to have Bibles in their sign language, to have church planting happen for Deaf worldwide.”

(Image courtesy of DOOR International)

‘God Knows My Language’

One way leaders are able to reach Deaf individuals is through new technologies like video. Now people can record sign language and provide those videos through phones or video chats. This creates new opportunities for bringing the Bible to Deaf communities in ways they can really understand.

Sorenson says, “And so it’s a slow change in mindset to see especially a Bible in sign language. You know Deaf see this and encounter the Word in a different way and they realize, ‘Oh, God knows my language.’ This changes everything for me. It changes everything for Deaf people.”

Just as people who don’t have Scripture written in their language need God’s Word, Deaf people need the Bible. They are dearly loved by God and need someone to bring them the Gospel in a way they can understand.

Partner with DOOR

Sorenson encourages the Church to continue the work of DOOR and other organizations to reach Deaf people.

“We want hearing people to partner with us. We want these people to come alongside us because you know, there’s obviously a lot more hearing than there are Deaf in the world and we need them. Partnership is so crucial. Many different things prayer, I’d say first, always. Also help and come find us. Ask us how you can come alongside us and help. Find other Deaf people and ask them how, you know, you can be of service. It’s so important.”

Learn more about DOOR’s work here. Join the work of DOOR financially here.

Header image courtesy of DOOR International.

Yesterday, we covered why Christians should continue the work to end human trafficking and not grow weary of doing good. (Read the article here.) Now, we are digging deeper into the narrative surrounding human trafficking.

As previously noted, in 2019, The Freedom Challenge, an organization under Operation Mobilization, started a domestic partnership with the like-minded Logos Wilderness Therapy.

The Human Trafficking Narrative

Chelsea Van Essen, who is a licensed social worker and therapist, is the co-founder and clinical director of Logos Wilderness Therapy. She focuses on trauma and complex trauma and works with trafficking survivors. Primarily, human trafficking comes down to the exploitation of power and control.

“Oftentimes, when we’re healing from trauma or with trafficking survivors, we’re actually trying to re-establish the feeling of empowerment and control, and then also put those protections back in place,” Van Essen says.

(Photo courtesy of The Freedom Challenge via Facebook)

Re-empowering people means starting with enlightening ourselves. Access to a multitude of stories about exploitation and abuse in the world is overwhelming. However, Van Essen emphasizes the need to not live into the narrative that the world is overcome with evil or that the average person is powerless.

“God has created us to live into these spaces of dignity and value of human life,” Van Essen says.

The next level of fighting human trafficking is seeing the individual.

“The first thing that [is] lost with human trafficking is the dehumanization. That’s the first thing that happens where people are objectified for someone else’s pleasure or power,” Van Essen says.

Reinstating a person’s dignity and humanization is powerful. Examples of seeing the individual are found in Scripture, too. Tracy Daugherty, the director of The Freedom Challenge, says human trafficking is a narrative throughout the Old Testament. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and he was trafficked to Egypt. But before Joseph came Hagar, the mother of Ishmael.

Hagar and God

Daugherty explains how Hagar was trafficked from Egypt to Abraham, the same man who God makes a covenant with and who Christians call “the father of faith”. Despite being a man of faith, Abraham takes Hagar, most likely because social norms of the day said such an action was morally acceptable.

(Photo courtesy of The Freedom Challenge via Facebook)

“He picked up this woman and then, of course, she becomes a, really basically a sex slave for [Sarai/Sarah] [Abraham’s wife] to have a child for them. And as you continue on that story, what I love about it is she is the only woman in scripture that God reveals himself personally to. He says my name is El Roi, the God that sees,” Daugherty says.

In Hagar’s story, God makes it clear that he sees her pain and how His people have wronged her. His face turns toward her pain, and he provides for her and her son.

“It’s just good to remember that this is not a new story. It’s not a new narrative. We’re just more aware of it, and from the very beginning, we see the enemy’s plan to exploit God’s beautiful, resilient, fabulous creation,” Daugherty says.

A Heart for the Vulnerable

Van Essen urges followers of Christ not to be surprised by evil. This surprise is the first step to feeling helpless. God has not abandoned His people, and He does not call His people to manicured lives that never touch the edges of darkness.

(Photo courtesy of The Freedom Challenge via Facebook)

“It is always God’s heart for us to turn towards and walk towards pain. We don’t want to do that. But, when we just look at the model…it is always God’s call for what does God require of us, to love justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly with your God,” Daugherty says.

“I am made in God’s image, which means that he empowers me to turn toward what He deeply cares for, and He deeply cares for those women and children who have been exploited in the world.”

James 1:27 reveals how what God considers undefiled religion is looking after the orphans and widows and staying unspotted from the world. Continuing the push against human trafficking is just one of the ways to live out pure and untainted religion.

Breaking Power Cycles

Furthermore, Van Essen notes how people should not try to fix the survivors of human trafficking. The Bible shows a pattern of God seeing people who are vulnerable experiencing pain and suffering. He draws near to them and moves them forward.

“It takes away this power dynamic, right. So, if I’m not over here trying to fix you, because then I’m assuming I know how to fix and rescue you and I don’t, right, that’s God’s job,” Van Essen says.

“I think in a lot of ways to remain hopeful is to have these reality checks of who am I? What is my space? What’s my role? And who is God? That does bring so much peace to my heart. God is the one sovereign, rescuer always, and then I am a partaker, a journeywoman with Him in this work. And that actually gives me the strength to like not [to] look away from what’s happening.”

Dig Deeper Into Ending Human Trafficking

Are you interested in joining or digging deeper into the work of fighting against the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable individuals? Then consider teaming up with The Freedom Challenge.

In 2020, The Freedom Challenge is headed to Israel to host the Jesus Walk. The Jesus Walk is a five-day wilderness backpacking trek. Participants will walk through Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. Along the walk, they will also minister to communities and learn more about the places where Biblical events took place.

To learn more about the Jesus Walk or to register for the event, click here.

(Photo courtesy of The Freedom Challenge via Facebook)

The Freedom Challenge is also hosting six one-day regional events. To find a regional event near you or to host an event, click here!

Another way to step up is through prayer. Pray for both the survivors and victims of human trafficking to find peace and healing. Pray for God to restore the dignity of those who have been dehumanized.

Ask God to encourage the Church not to turn away from pain or become overwhelmed by it, but to provide a light in the darkness instead. Pray for the Church to see the individuals impacted by human trafficking. And pray for the provision of The Freedom Challenge and Logos Wilderness Therapy.

Last Thoughts

On a closing note:

“As we discover these stories that often have men in the center, we can really without knowing [it] place a shame blanket on all men. I am the mom of two boys, and I have an amazing husband…what I would like to say is for our brothers; we need our brothers in Christ to stand up and be a voice, an advocate for their sisters,” Daugherty says.

“There [are] t-shirts out that say “the future is women,” and as much as I love women, I don’t want my future to look like that. I want my future to be men and women because we’re both made in the image of God, and it’s going to take all of us, the full Kingdom, to be able to stand in this fight.”

To learn more about The Freedom Challenge, click here.

To learn more about Logos Wilderness Therapy, click here.

Header photo courtesy of The Freedom Challenge.

(Photo courtesy of Jesus Film)

TWR’s Brandon Neal tells us a bit more about the project.

“A lot of people in the world has seen The JESUS Film, but not a lot of people have heard the message of Jesus. So, they took the audio track out of the film, and then they added in what was necessary so that it made sense as a full stand-alone audio product,” Neal says.

“What that means is they would add in things like…sound effects for people walking or things like that…so that it makes sense to a listener.”

The Story of Jesus

The whole audio drama of The Story of Jesus is about a ninety-minute listen. TWR is airing the audio drama to hundreds of millions of listeners worldwide in 69 languages via shortwave, AM, FM, and satellite broadcasts. The audio drama is also available to stream online. Play it on your device for those long travels to visit family this holiday season or listen to the audio drama on Christmas day!

(Photo courtesy of TWR via Facebook)

In its three years, TWR and Jesus Film are already seeing the fruits of their labor across the world.

“This actually came from a European broadcast in [the] Polish language. And this person wrote in and said, ‘I’m a blind person. Your programs are irreplaceable to me. The soundtrack of this Jesus movie that you broadcast this week is the most precious gift for Christmas and New Year’s’,” Neal says.

“This person who could have never seen The JESUS Film is able to hear the content from The JESUS Film, which is essentially the Gospel of Luke. And this person is able to be encouraged; they’re able to draw closer to the God that made them. They’re able to hear how much God loves them through what Jesus did during His life, His ministry, His death, burial, and resurrection.”

Pray for Listeners

Along with listening to The Story of Jesus, will you pray for God to use this audio drama to reveal Himself to listeners?

“Pray for the people that are listening to The JESUS Film audio drama in their language, and also for the teams on the ground who are answering their questions,” Neal asks.

(Photo courtesy of JESUS Film Project).

In many locations, TWR staff asks questions at the end of the drama. These questions dig into people’s thoughts and ask if they want to know more about Christ. Then, the audience has the opportunity to respond to these questions through letters, texts, phone calls, and emails. When listeners reach out, TWR staff connect with them directly to answer questions and respond to comments.

During Christmas of 2018, when TWR broadcast The Story of Jesus, TWR heard back from over 4,700 people. At least 43 of those people decided they wanted a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pray God continues using this audio adaptation to draw people closer to Him.

“That’s why we do what we do. That’s why we’re in media missions, is to see people come to faith in Christ, to be encouraged in their faith, and to essentially go from a position of doubt to a position where they can make a decision to where they’re in a discipleship relationship with someone, with another believer,” Neal says.

To stream the audio drama The Story of Jesus, click here!

Explore more of TWR’s work here.

To learn more about Jesus Film, click here.

Header photo courtesy of TWR.

Weekend Plans

Photo courtesy of Bibles For The World

Bibles For The World’s President and CEO John Pudaite tells us the ministry is a part of an outreach festival taking place this year on December 7-8.

“We’ll be providing scripture as a partner to Franklin Graham’s Love Phnom Penh Festival in the capital city of Cambodia. And we’re very excited about this opportunity,” Pudaite says.

“We’re very excited as we’ve seen the body of Christ come together. That is one of the things that is always so exciting and encouraging is to see the different churches, different denominations, and independent churches and other ministries come together and work together with a common goal of bringing the message, bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of their town, of their city.”

Cambodia is a majority Buddhist country (Photo courtesy of Bibles For The World)

While Pudaite and the Bibles For The World team are excited to see this festival come together, getting to this point has proved challenging. Pudaite says the government never granted permission for the original venue the festival intended to use. Instead, the festival is taking place in a less ideal, but still doable venue. Already, a team from Bibles For The World is on the ground preparing for the scripture distribution.

Some groups who are planning special outreach to children during this event have requested scripture materials to hand out from Bibles For The World. Pudaite’s response, “This is exciting, yes, of course [we’ll provide materials]. How much do you need?”

Pray for Cambodia

Traditionally Cambodia is a Buddhist nation. Pudaite says the Cambodian government is relatively tolerant of the Gospel, though it has its eye on the Christian community. Pudaite asks believers everywhere to join in praying for the outreach happening in Cambodia this weekend.

“[Pray] not only for the even that’s coming up, but even as God’s word goes out through the scriptures that we’ll be distributing in and around the festival,” Pudaite says.

Pray for the churches carrying the excitement and message of the Gospel back to their communities. Ask for the Holy Spirit to move through these churches and to bring sustained revival to Cambodia. Pray for the success of this outreach and the safety of those participating.

To learn more about Bibles For The World’s work, click here.

Give to Bibles For The World here.

Header photo courtesy of Bibles For The World.

Violence in Burkina Faso

Todd Nettleton, a spokesperson for Voice of the Martyrs, USA, says this recent attack follows a string of other attacks targeting Christian groups throughout 2019. Though there is no clear motive for this most recent attack, there is a pattern. Read more on previous attacks here, here, and here.

(Photo courtesy of Compassion International)

In recent years, Burkina Faso has not been a violent place for Christians. This is changing. Nettleton says that while there is no clear answer for the change, he suspects the violence across Burkina Faso’s borders is now seeping into the country.

“Burkina Faso sits, has a long border with Mali, where there has been a lot of trouble, a lot of terrorism type activities. It also shares a border with Niger, which then not far along that border you can get to Nigeria. So, it sits in kind of a hotbed of Africa where there is a lot of trouble in some of the surrounding nations,” Nettleton says.

“It seems like some of that trouble, and some of those radical Islamic groups are moving across the border and conducting attacks in Burkina Faso as well.”

How to Respond

Nettleton expects the Church in Burkina Faso will reach out to those impacted by this most recent attack. As for Christians outside of the country, there is one crucial thing to do.

(Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash)

“The key thing that most of our listeners can do is pray. We can pray for the church in Burkina Faso. We can pray that they will not be intimidated by this and not lose courage and not lose faith, but continue to serve the Lord and continue to meet together for fellowship, for worship, even though they know there’s risk involved in that,” Nettleton says.

Pray also for peace in Burkina Faso. Pray for an end to the violence in the region. And pray for those who attack Christians to come to know the grace, love, and truth of Christ.

Explore ways to support the persecuted Church alongside Voice of the Martyrs, USA, HERE.

Header photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Australia.

Increase in Attacks

An unrelated article from Catholic Herald details a recent attack on a Christian woman because she was walking on a road. The incident took place during a Hindu festival, and extremists argued the woman’s actions defiled the roadway. This attack is just one of many, showing a continued rise of Christian persecution in the country.

(Photo courtesy VOMC via Facebook)

Greg Musselman, a spokesperson for Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says unfortunately, these reports are not surprising.

“We’ll never eliminate persecution. It is getting worse. I think a part of that is the internet, the social media, people around the world firing each other up,” Musselman says.

In the state of Tamil Nadu, several house churches are finding it increasingly challenging to meet. Usually, house churches are small enough to fly under the radar. However, VOM Canada is receiving reports that this is changing.

Religious Freedom Violations

Some house churches are now under surveillance in attempts to prevent the gatherings. Others were bluntly warned to stop meeting, despite there being no requirement for permission to meet and worship in homes. Still, VOM Canada reports pastors of these small church bodies have experienced harassment and were told they need permission from district officials to hold prayer services.

(Photo courtesy VOMC via Facebook.)

It appears the mantra “to be Indian is to be Hindu” is no longer a saying; it is now the yardstick for measuring a person’s value and identity in the country. Christians residing outside of India need to pray for the persecuted Christians within the state.

“I think the first thing and most important thing is we pray that the believers would not be paralyzed by fear, that they would continue to do what God has called them to do in building a Christian community and sharing the message of Jesus’ love. And that they would have wisdom,” Musselman says.

Pray for those suffering for their faith to be encouraged. Ask God to remove barriers preventing house churches and small groups from meeting. Pray for Christians in India to have patience and peace despite their circumstances.

Discover ways to advocate for and encourage persecuted Christians through VOMC here.

Header photo is of a church in Hyderabad, India. Photo courtesy of Paul Silvan via Unsplash.

Persecution Restricts Gospel Work

In China, the government has shut down FEBC’s apps, live-streams, and podcast. The organization still has its content on short-wave radio, but only because this outlet is difficult to control.

(Photo and header photo courtesy of IDU via Facebook.

“We’re concerned about our people because many of our people that are working in China, even in Hong Kong, are under the watchful eye of the Chinese government. Some pastors are being put in jail as people go to church. There’s face recognition. Police are standing in the back; they’re monitoring very closely. So, it’s very critical, right now,” Pederson says.

At the same time, social media and other technology have proved to be bridges for discipleship and reaching the unreached with the Gospel. Pederson says local Christians are downloading “thousands of hours of content” from FEBC.

Rather than crying foul over increasing challenges, the ministry is utilizing available tools like computers and mobile devices to penetrate physical (and some digital) barriers.

“What we’re seeing in some of the most persecuted countries of the world, where’s the least access [to the Gospel], percentage-wise the Church is growing faster than any other part of the world. So, go figure; in God’s economy, what is humanly seems impossible, God is finding possible,” Pederson says.

Challenges in the West

One of the challenges groups like FEBC face is actually the North American and Western Churches. Christians in these two regions are relatively unaware or unengaged with realities of persecution facing parts of the global Church. Alliance for the Unreached offers resources to change this, along with a day for unity within the Church.

This day is called the International Day for the Unreached, which is held each year on Pentecost Sunday. In 2020, that date falls on May 31. It’s a day set aside for the global Church to pray for the Gospel to enter unreached communities and fulfill the Great Commission.

Get Involved

(Graphic courtesy of IDU)

But don’t wait until May 2020 to get involved. Visit the website for the International Day for the Unreached’s to learn more about unreached people groups and what you can do today for the Great Commission.

Take time to pray today, too. Pray for the persecuted church to remain resilient, to persevere in Christ, and to boldly and respectfully proclaim the Gospel message. Pray for believers to build relationships with unreached people in their country. Ask God to bless these relationships and to make them a pathway for His love and truth.

To learn more about the International Day for the Unreached, CLICK HERE.

Header graphic courtesy of IDU.

Abducting Raymond Koh

Todd Nettleton, a spokesperson for Voice of the Martyrs, USA, says people can watch security footage of the abduction online.

(Capture of Raymond Koh and his wife, courtesy TheStar.com)

“It involved at least five vehicles, at least 13 different men. The whole thing took less than 45 seconds. So, it was a very well planned, very practiced military-style operation to make this pastor disappear. And he hasn’t been seen or heard from since. His car has never been found,” Nettleton says.

VOM has launched a petition drive to get answers. The main question the organization is asking is this; where is Raymond Koh?

“It is located at RELEASERAYMOND.COM. So far, in the first just couple of weeks, we’ve had over 30,000 signatures. We are hoping to get to 100,000 before December when we deliver these to the Malaysian embassy, in Washington D.C.,” Nettleton says.

Petition Malaysia’s Government for Answers

VOM is running the petition drive now because the Malaysian government has changed hands. Nettleton says the current government may not have reasons to cover up the abduction of Pastor Koh. It is possible the new government will take down the veil and reveal the truth behind Koh’s disappearance.

“Earlier this year, the human rights commission in Malaysia blamed the abduction on the special branch of the police. Basically, the intelligence police. However, nobody has been arrested. Nobody’s been held accountable for that, and Pastor Raymond Koh is still missing,” Nettleton says.

“His family is still going to bed every night, not knowing where he is or what’s happened to him.”

VOM hopes the government will come clean, especially with thousands of names on the petition requesting answers. Will you sign your name?

Sign the Release Raymond petition here.

Sign the Petition, Next Steps

Pray for information on Raymond Koh’s condition and location to be revealed. Pray for Koh’s wife, Susanna, and the burden she bears of not knowing if Koh is sick or well, who is holding him captive, or if her husband is even alive. Ask God to encourage Susanna and her children, give them strength, and to preserve their faith.

(Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs, USA via Facebook)

Pray for God’s protection and encouragement of Raymond Koh, where ever he is. Pray he knows he is not forgotten by the Christian community, or by God.

“God has been faithful to them. Susanna talked about how God has been faithful and how God even, really convicted her to forgive the men who had kidnapped her husband,” Nettleton says.

Nettleton notes the confirmation page of the petition provides an address for people to send letters and cards of encouragement to Susanna Koh and her children. The Kohs have received notes from all over the world. It has been an amazing encouragement to them.

To listen to VOM’s interview with Susanna Koh (Raymond Koh’s wife), CLICK HERE.

Support VOM’s work here.

Header photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs, USA.

(Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash)

Todd Nettleton, of Voice of the Martyrs USA, says both the founder and assistant director of China Horizons are detained in China. The reason–suspicions of helping people enter the country illegally. However, the recent charges correlate with a trend VOM USA has witnessed.

“We have seen, over the last number of months, a number of foreign workers in China, who have (when it comes time for their visa to be renewed) they find out, ‘oh sorry, your visa’s not going to be renewed’. Some foreigners have had their visas canceled,” Nettleton says.

Others have voluntarily left the country to avoid having their visas canceled with the hopes of returning in 6-12 months.

In the past, when travelers were unwelcome or detained in China, authorities typically put them on a plane and instructed them not to return. The end. However, travelers were not detained for lengthy periods, as is such with the arrests of China Horizons’ employees.

Has the golden age for traveling to the land of the Red Dragon come to an end? Possibly.

Concern for Foreigners in China

Some sources who have taken to social media are speculating if the recent arrests are the mark of something even bigger. Something resembling the Boxer Rebellion—a warning to foreigners to get out now.

For context, the Boxer Rebellion (1900) references a period in China’s history when a secret organization in the northern part of the country attacked foreigners. The Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists “killed foreigners and Chinese Christians,” according to this article. The attacks stemmed from a desire to prevent outside influences from penetrating the region. A similar attitude seems adopted today.

“Xi Jinping and his government have set as an aim they are going to control religious expression in China. If that takes tearing down church buildings, if that takes putting people in prison, they are going to exercise that control,” Nettleton says.

“Foreigners, obviously, don’t necessarily cooperate with that. They don’t fall under that Chinese control of all religious expression. And so, I think that’s why you’re seeing foreigners being told it’s time for you to go home.”

The resounding question—what does this mean for ministries working in China?

A reevaluation.

Nettleton says it is time for careful consideration of the ‘how’ and ‘what’ behind foreign ministries and foreign workers in China. The good news—Nettleton believes the Chinese Church is mostly self-sufficient and capable of carrying on the Church and Gospel work despite the costs.

“As believers, and as those who would take the Gospel to a place like China, we need to consider the consequences. We need to count the costs ahead of time because it has become much more serious in China, and an American passport is no longer protection from being put in prison,” Nettleton says.

Next Steps

(Photo courtesy VOM Canada)

Pray for the protection of Christians in China. Pray for discernment, their tact, and their wisdom in navigating ministry work in the country. Ask God to make clear His will for each Christian currently in China.

Also, pray for those who are or will pay a price for their faith. Pray for their strength and perseverance. Finally, pray for the national Church and its ability to carry forward the Church.

Find more ways to support the Church in China here.

Header screen capture courtesy Prayercast.