Updated Intercessory Prayer Message from Early Rain Covenant Church

 

Peace Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for your intercession in prayer, and your love for us. A brief explanation of our situation follows:

On Saturday afternoon, May 8, as their typical tactic, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials summoned Preacher Wu Wuqing to the Longquanyi District Damian Police Station to prevent him from attending Sunday worship service the next day. As Sister Xiong, his wife, wanted to see Preacher Wu and bring him food that evening, and because of the Lord's preparation, Sister Shu Qiong and our family traveled to the police station, arriving at the entrance around 10:00 am. Many political security and stabilization officers gathered at the entrance of the police station one after another,

After we asked the brothers to sit down, the deputy chief, like an enemy, did not allow us to move around the police station yard. In that tense atmosphere, while we waited quietly in the reception area inside, our children fell asleep in our arms, one after another.

Police officers deliberated about us for nearly two hours. During that time, while verbalizing a continuous warning of threats, full of profanity, CCP officials refused to permit us to leave. By about one o'clock, officers escorted us, one by one to an office on the second floor. We were so many in number, like sheep entering a pack of wolves. Nevertheless, we still had peace in our hearts.

While we waited, one of the plainclothesmen, wearing a mask, angrily punched and kicked me. Initially, none of the officers physically assaulted Sister Xiong Meifang, nor my wife. When Sister Shu Qiong did not cooperate with the authorities’ threats, but continued to sing, several male officials surrounded her. Acting with the fury of a thunderstorm, some officers slapped her in the face. They not only broke her glasses but left a multitude of scratches on her neck and arms.

The shocking scene in the lobby of the police station that day…, the officers’ abusive actions to a child/ren of God caused this call for prayer. Pray for the Lord to have mercy on those persecuting us.

Without presenting any paperwork to us, officers searched us and forcibly confiscated our cell phones. When officers took me into the office area to make a simple statement, all four of us refused to answer any questions.

As soon as I entered the office area, I breathed a prayer of thanks. From the office where police had taken me, I saw Evangelist Wu Wuqing sitting in the first room with two police officers guarding him. “Wuqing, Jesus loves you,” I said.

Brother Wuqing immediately called back to me, "God loves you.”

“Thank you, Lord,” I prayed.

 

That sleepless night, police officers from our various districts did not show up until almost 2:00 am. After arriving from where they had initially picked us up, police from each district picked us up and transported us back to the police stations in each of our districts

 

To sum up the whole process:

• we entered the police station willingly for the love of our brothers, so we were not afraid. What we did proved pleasing in God's sight.

• As we were able to pray constantly and stay alert to avoid bloodshed, the whole process turned out to be a great spiritual exercise, In the face of the CCP officials’ repeated threats and even violence, we could only surrender ourselves to our faithful Lord, to be considerate of them, and to pray for them.

• Although we were not surprised that anger completely filled our abusers, the process proved rather rough. We could only continue to preach the gospel if we were willing to submit to the authorities beating us. Perhaps our Christian singing offended them, or the spreading of the video which included them frightened them.

• As the journey ahead remains long, pray for mercy on us and on our persecutors. Ask the Lord to sustain us.

• Thank the Lord that the One with us commands more than the ones with the CCP.

• Pray that the Lord will continue to watch over our preacher, Wu Wuqing. Police continue to hold him at the police station. Also pray for his wife and children.

• Pray that God will protect Sister Shu Qiong. She still possesses the joy that this world cannot take away from us.

We may be humbled, but the Lord's arms are not shortened.

 
Peace and blessings to all the members on Sunday.

 
A weak servant called by the Lord's grace:

Brother Dai Zhichao

May 9, 2021, 3:30 am in Chengdu

 

---