Photos from the article:
Posted on 11/02/2009 5:08:18 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Christians gathering in snow after forced out
On Sunday, Novermber 1, Beijing Christians gathered in heavy snow after they were banned from an indoor place.
Photos from the article:
Ping!
no room at the inn
Prayers for these Christians. We have it so easy here compared to anywhere else, as far as persecution, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
I see a lot of people standing around. Looks like a typical Chinese bus-stop.
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Come this way!
During the Boxer Rebellion, 222 Chinese Orthodox Christians were martyred for the Faith. God willing it will never happen again. The “Holy Martyrs of China” are commemorated on June 11.
Troparion, in the Fifth Tone:
In a pagan land ye were enlightened by the Orthodox Faith,
and having lived in the Faith but a little time,
ye inherited the eternal Kingdom.
By the purity of your Christian ways
ye put to shame the false Confucian piety
and trampled demon-inspired Buddhism underfoot as refuse,
sanctifying the Chinese land with your blood.
Wherefore, we pray:
Entreat the Master of all
that He enlighten your land with Orthodoxy in these latter times,
and strengthen us therein.
Kontakion, in the First Tone:
O Martyrs of these latter times,
ye whitened your garments in the blood of the Lamb,
and shed your own blood for Christ.
Wherefore, ye now minister unto Him day and night
in the Church of heaven.
Therefore, entreat Christ for us, O glorious Martyrs,
that He hide His little flock from the beguilement of Antichrist,
and that He lead all of us out of great tribulation
unto a land of never-waning light.
I’ve been thinking maybe this is a miracle, after all this is Beijing China, praise the Lord they can meet at all, and in the open and in broad daylight. I dont see any signs of police with batons. And if you watch the video they are actually singing praise songs to the Lord.
Amen.
Most Americans seem to be unaware of the fact that there are more Christians in China than there are in the US.
Some have said 80 million Christians in China, is that what you have heard?
While I don’t really have a number, my recollection is that it is considerably higher than that. Maybe one of our fellow FReepers will come along with something a bit more solid.
Ethier way, I think China may be poised for a huge revival, how wonderful that would be. Many there have lost faith in the ChiCom government, they see it as nothing but pure corruption. I know this because we had a Chinese sister at our Church a few years back, she went back home to China to start a Church in her grandpa’s village. She keeps in touch through email.
Thanks.
Many years ago (8?) I was at a church function with various members from other countries. One Chinese guy told of how when China was opened back up to missionaries (90’s???) the missionaries were expecting very few Christians as the doors had been closed for so long and the Communists were so against them.
The Christian church had grown (underground) to HUGE numbers. The missionaries were shocked.
This guy said that the Christians in China pray for us in America to be persecuted so that we too may be tested, and be forced to rely on God, and know the full measure of His love, and see the wonderful things that He can bring out of hardships.
Afterwards I went up to the guy and said “Thanks for your talk. It is amazing what is happening in China. But, um, can you ask them to quit praying for us?”.
I've heard that number, and supposedly it comes from sources within the underground church movement. But, not surprisingly, it's hard to get an accurate count of people who risk their lives and possessions by identifying themselves as Christians.
Here's what a Wikipedia article says (go to link to review the sources for these numbers):
The subject of China's Christian population is controversial. The government of the People's Republic of China census enumerated 4 million Roman Catholics and 10 million Protestants. However, independent estimates have ranged from 40 million, to 100 million, to 130 million Christians. According to China Aid Association, State Administration for Religious Affairs Director Ye Xiaowen reported to audiences at Beijing University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that the number of Christians in China had risen to 130 million by the end of 2006, including 20 million Catholics. This has been officially denied by the Foreign Ministry.Recent studies have suggested that there are roughly 54 million Christians in China, of which 39 million are Protestants and 14 million are Roman Catholics as the most common and reliable figure among others.
Interesting. Appreciate the post.
Thankfully, the LORD knows exactly how many there are.
:-)
Agreed!
Thanks for the helpful information. I believe God is moving in the hearts of the people in China. I have heard that it is known by some Pastors in China, that the mother of a high up ChiCom official is a Christian, of course it’s denied by the leaders, but let’s keep all the Christians in China in our prayers
It depends. The corrupted Russian Orthodox church has been brought in by Chinese authorities.
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