It has been said that at any given time, day or night, there is a house church in China that is praying. The Spirit of God is alive and powerfully working among the Chinese, and maybe it is because they humble themselves so completely before Him. They trust Him for everything from protection to daily bread. Because of their government's persecution of unregistered believers, they have to trust God to intervene for them. They embrace the suffering that comes to them because they know that it is part of bearing the cross of Christ. But to hear the stories of persecution will make your heart weep. Below is part of Gao Zhisheng's story (his full story can be found under the month of February). China Aide has been keeping his story alive and circulating, so people will not forget to pray and act on his behalf. Here is an update as of today.
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DAY 242: GAO ZHISHENG ALIVE, CONDITION UNKNOWN
Christian human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng was taken by a dozen police officers and last seen in public on February 4, 2009. Gao Zhisheng has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities for defending the persecuted. He has been an unyielding voice for justice in the Chinese courts.
July 16, 2009 WASHINGTON, DC – On July 9 and 10 ChinaAid delivered more than 100,000 signatures to the Chinese Embassy, the U.S. State Department and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). The signatures represent concerned citizens in the U.S. and around the world who are asking for the immediate release of Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights attorney who was kidnapped by Chinese officials on February 4.
Gao Zhisheng has defended persecuted Christians and others who have been abused by the Chinese government for their beliefs. Sources inside China say Gao is undergoing severe torture. The petition is the second installment of signatures on behalf of Gao. The first installment of more than 50,000 signatures was delivered at the end of April; the latest petition included these signatures.
On July 10, the petition for Gao Zhisheng’s release, addressed to Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton, was delivered in person to the U.S. State Department. On the same day, Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, presented the petition to the CECC during a roundtable regarding the recent crackdown on human rights attorneys in China. Recently, more than 18 lawyers have not been permitted to renew their licenses. Some have been arrested, beaten and tortured for their normal legal defense work. Gao, along with many of the other attorneys targeted by the government, have been working with ChinaAid’s legal defense efforts for religious freedom cases.
As a result of the petition for Gao, several Congressional leaders, including Congressman James McGovern, have agreed to send a letter to Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong inquiring about Gao Zhisheng’s current whereabouts and condition.
On July 9, Attorney David E. Taylor, a ChinaAid volunteer, delivered the petition for Gao’s release to the Chinese Embassy. He was allowed inside the embassy, but when the Chinese Embassy staff saw the petition was from ChinaAid for Gao Zhisheng they told him he must leave and refused to accept the petition. The embassy staff at the door said, “I’m sorry, Sir, I’m sorry! Take it away!” See video below.
Taylor left the petition at the front door of the embassy, and stated that: “According to the law, leaving the petition on Chinese property, the embassy, amounts to ‘legal service.’ The Chinese Embassy was legally served with the petition even though they tried to avoid it.”
Taylor said it was a profound honor to deliver the petition on behalf of the 100,000 signatories. He feels holding the Chinese government accountable is not only important for Gao, but also for all human rights lawyers in China. As an American lawyer, he feels a personal responsibility to speak out. “It is time that we, the American lawyers be heard, to lobby for that which is far more sacred than our own interests – the interests of real human rights across the world and, at this moment, particularly in China.”
ChinaAid recently confirmed that Attorney Gao is alive, allegedly released on parole, though his condition and whereabouts are still unknown. www.freegao.com
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These are a people who truly understand the power of prayer. Despite being missing for almost a year, Gao is not forgotten and many people around the world have been interceding for him. We don't pray to a god that doesn't hear us, we pray to the almighty God. The God that can and does affect change in our lives and in this world. May we not forget that prayer should not be a selfish expression of our wishes, but rather a heartfelt plea for our God to intercede on our behalf against the evil that threatens us and His kingdom. And we know that he will not leave us as orphans, but that he will come to us, and be with us, in our hour of darkest need. May we stand firm to the end.
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Here are some more videos on the House Churches.
China's Underground Churches #1
China's Underground Churches #2
China's Underground Churches #3
China's Underground Churches #4
The Back to Jerusalem Vision (We have Brother Yun’s book, “The Heavenly Man” in GCC’s library.)
56 Minorities in China
