Newsline
Powerful Praying in Delmarva
COLUMBIA, Md.—Ron the state with longings for a
Legal Troubles for
Martin, administrative bishop for great awakening!
the Church of God in Delmarva, The prayer commission, com-
Chinese Christians
is serious about prayer. He has posed of couples, has assumed
formed a statewide prayer com- an active regional role. Each cou-
BEIJING (Compass Direct News)—On June 10, a Chinese
mission composed of lay and ple prays for every pastor and
court found Christian bookstore owner Shi Weihan, 38, guilty
credentialed prayer coordinators. wife in their region at least
of “illegal business operation” and sentenced him to three years
He has called the state together monthly. The seven couples
in prison and a 150,000 yuan (US $21,975) fine. Sources said
for two Power Prayer Days. The rotate, and each covers a day
Shi’s store operated legally, sold only books for which he had
response was so overwhelming praying for the administrative
obtained government permission, and
that the venue for the first event bishop, his team, and churches
that his Holy Spirit Trading Co. print-
had to be moved—it was too in the entire region. There is
ed Bibles and Christian literature with-
small. The second Power Prayer never a day that the Church of
out authorization but only for free dis-
Day drew a standing-room-only God ministry in Delmarva is not
tribution to local house churches.
full house. More than 1,000 covered in prayer. Strategically,
Meanwhile, Li Dunyong, one of
attended these two days of this region embraces the nation’s
several lawyers involved in the defense
prayer training. capital. They are praying for a
of Uyghur house church Christian
Delmarva State Council nationwide revival.
Alimjan Yimit, was effectively dis-
meetings have spontaneously Pastors are reporting a
barred at the end of May when Chi-
turned into prayer meetings. As move of the Holy Spirit in their
nese authorities turned down an
Shi Weihan
a result of a divine moment in churches that they directly
annual application to renew his law
the midst of a council meeting, attribute to the statewide focus
license. Zhang Kai, another Beijing lawyer who had defended
the entire on prayer. Miraculous healings
Alimjan, suffered the same fate. Authorities failed to renew
state was have been reported. Jobs have
licenses for at least 15 other lawyers who had defended civil
called been provided. People are con-
rights cases, religious and ethnic minorities, and political dissi-
together for necting with God.
dents, according to watch group Human Rights in China
a day of The next “Great Day of
(HRIC). Officials harassed and physically abused several of the
solemn Prayer” for Church of God con-
affected lawyers in the months prior to the loss of their licenses.
prayer. gregations everywhere is Octo-
“The process of building a country ruled by law has suffered
Bishop ber 4. Resource materials can be
a serious setback,” HRIC claimed in a statement on June 4. The
Martin found at www.forwardtogetherin
rejection of applications followed the February 4 disappearance
Ron Martin
reports
changingtimes.com. To learn
of Gao Zhisheng, a high-profile Christian human-rights activist
hearing about monthly “prayer-leader
who once said that every human rights lawyer would eventual-
“rumblings”— the “sounds of coaching calls,” write to doug
ly become a human-rights case.
revival” here and there across
small@projectpray.org.
By the
Regarding abortion, do Americans describe themselves as
pro-choice or pro-life?
Numbers
1995 2002 2009
Pro-choice 56% 47% 42%
Source: Gallup’s Annual
Values and Beliefs Surveys
Pro-life 43% 46% 51%
30 EVANGEL • AUG 2009
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