Source: www.ChinaAid.org
Date: May 4, 2021
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| Pastor Jing Mingri's letter. (Photo: ChinaAid source) |
(Beijing—May 04, 2021) On May 1, Jing Mingri, lead pastor of Beiging Zion Church [house church], along with other pastors, elders, and committee members of Zion Church, wrote a letter to members stressing: "Those in chains for Christ will be completely free in Christ."Letter from Pastor Jing and others:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Greetings from your grateful pastors, The persecution which began in 2018 seems to have reemerged in Spring 2021. We have learned that many churches and Christians across the country have been raided. So grateful that God uses us—a small vessel and lets us have share in the hardship.
On the evening of April 28, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) security agents seized Minister Qie Jiafu. During the early morning of April 30, officials announced that he would be administratively detained for 10 days. Today marks the first day of his custody at the detention center. Many faithful stewards and maids of God in China have walked this path before Qie, and their path was tougher than today’s. We will witness that people who tread the path [of persecution] will bear good changes, for instance, God will refine their hearts, and build their characters. He will increase their love for Christ and hope for His kingdom.
We believe that our Lord is shaping our beloved Brother in this way.Not only that, we with our detained Brothers and their families in Christ, pray. May the Lord answer our prayers to encourage them, comfort them, and accompany them. We look forward to the great joy of reuniting with them.
Please intercede with us for the following three prayer requests:
Pray that we may meet with Brother Qie soon. We went to the designated detention center, but officials couldn’t find Brother Qie’s information in their system. Detention center staff said that no visits nor phone calls are allowed during custody. Also, guards will not allow anyone to deliver anything to him nor deposit money (a small amount of money for the use at the detention center) on his account. We are making efforts in the hope that we will see Brother Qie soon.
Thank God for the protection over Brother Qie’s family, particularly the peace God has granted to his wife. His family has cancelled some of their big plans because of detention. At this time, Brother Qie cannot fulfill his responsibilities to his family. May the Lord give his family wisdom and stamina. Also, pray that the Lord dispatch many angels to help them.
Pray that God uses this recent turmoil to revive us. The event as such reminds us that spiritual warfare is fiercely taking place throughout this land. God compels each of us to think: What on Earth do we believe? What cost [price] does our faith deserve?
As long as we can breathe, we must preach the gospel, pastor flocks of sheep [Brothers and Sisters], and serve the world. Let us not forget the reminder from the disciples: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”*Jing Mingri, lead pastor of Zion ChurchPastors, Elders, and Committee of Zion Church
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Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor
is. not in vain in the Lord.
~ *1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV)
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