The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, February 19, 2003

A summary of news concerning the Persecuted Church and how you can respond.

*********************************** Contents: 1. Religious Freedom Threatened (Hong Kong) 2. Human Rights Dialogue (China/Canada) 3. Question of the Week 4. Update on Pastor’s Trial (UAE) 5. Jerry, Jeanette and John (Editorial)

*********************************** 1. Religious Freedom Threatened (Hong Kong)

Since Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, China has consistently violated the agreement signed by the Chinese and British governments regarding the governance and autonomy of the island. According to the agreement, Hong Kong was to retain its economic and social systems as a democratic society for 50 years. However, mainland China has since assumed more control of the government than what was agreed upon. An example of this is Article 23, introduced by the Hong Kong government on February 13 with intentions to make it law by July 2003.

A particularly troubling element of Article 23 is that any Hong Kong group that receives funds, direction or leadership from a group that is already outlawed by Beijing would be likewise banned in Hong Kong. Also, appeals by organizations banned under the new law may potentially be heard only by closed tribunals, barring group members and their legal representatives from the proceedings.

Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen has spoken out against the law, which could effectively remove the freedom to worship for Hong Kong’s 347,000 Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church is banned in mainland China and was replaced by the Chinese government with a Catholic organization loyal to the state rather than the Vatican. While the law specifically targets organizations in Hong Kong that are controlled by illegal organizations based in mainland China, the Chinese government has frequently shown its resolve to remove any religious organization that is not subservient to the state.

Pray for believers in Hong Kong, as they continue their ministry during this time of uncertainty. Pray that the Chinese government will bow to pressure and not enact this new law. Pray also for the many Chinese Christians already in prison, suffering for their faithfulness to their Lord.

*********************************** 2. Human Rights Dialogue (China/Canada)

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) is calling on Christians to pray for meetings taking place on February 15-21 between Canadian and Chinese officials. Ye Xiaowen, Director-General of the Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs, is visiting Canada as part of the Canada-China Bilateral Human Rights Dialogue. Mr. Ye and his delegation will be meeting with Canadian government and religious leaders to talk about church-state relations in Canada. And EFC delegate was scheduled to meet with the delegation last Monday.

Pray that there will be a positive and truthful interaction between the Chinese officials and Christians during these meetings. Pray that these talks can help in easing the persecution against Christians in China. Pray that Canadian delegates will not be misled into believing the misinformation frequently propagated by the Chinese government.

*********************************** 3. Question of the Week

Dialogues like those going on between Canadian and Chinese officials this week are becoming increasingly common. Our question this week is:

How effective do you believe meetings like this are in promoting religious liberty? 1. Very effective 2. Somewhat effective 3. Not very effective 4. A complete waste of time

To participate in our poll and discussion, go to http://www.persecution.net and click on “Discussion Forum.” If you have not registered on our forum in the past, click on “Register” and select a username and password.

*********************************** 4. Update on Pastor’s Trial (UAE)

On December 18, the Persecution & Prayer Alert reported on the arrest of Filipino pastor Rev. Fernando Alconga in the United Arab Emirates for illegally distributing Christian literature. The arrest came after undercover agents approached him asking for Christian materials in Arabic. Though he had nothing in Arabic, he showed them material he had in other languages. The previous day he had given literature to an Egyptian outside the same building.

The Voice of the Martyrs received an update today from Middle East Concern, reporting that Rev. Alconga appeared in court on February 16. The Egyptian to whom he had given literature testified that Rev. Alconga had not pressured him in any way. Another witness is scheduled to be heard on March 2. A letter of appeal has also been presented to one of the rulers of Dubai and a response is expected shortly.

Rev. Alconga’s lawyer is pleased with outcome of the trial to this point. We ask that you continue to pray that he will be acquitted. Pray that the letter of appeal will be favourably received. Pray that the Egyptian and others who have heard the message of the Gospel will respond in faith.

*********************************** 5. Jerry, Jeanette and John (Editorial) Glenn Penner (Communications Director, VOM Canada)

It’s been two weeks now since I returned from south Sudan and I’ve hardly had time to catch my breath. I was barely home for a week, when I had to jump on another plane bound for northern Vancouver Island (which, for those of you unfamiliar with Canada, is pretty much as far west as you can go in this country). I love that part of the world. The mountains, forests, clean air, and (most importantly in February) NO SNOW!

In a little town called Bowser on Vancouver Island, there lives one of the sweetest couples that I know. Jerry and Jeanette are probably one of VOM’s most proactive supporters. Having heard Richard Wurmbrand, himself, a number of years ago, they have taken it upon themselves to be a voice for the voiceless in their region of British Columbia. They believe in the power of prayer. They regularly write to and on behalf of prisoners of faith, organize meetings for VOM speakers, attend our conferences and often send emails to our staff, asking questions and offering words of encouragement. It is rare that I come to an event in the Vancouver area and do not run across one or both of them.

It was a pleasure for me to stay with Jerry and Jeanette in their home again last weekend and to share with them how God has been working in my life, the life of the mission, and in the lives of our persecuted brothers and sisters in the Lord. They rejoiced when they heard of God bringing people to Himself in restricted and hostile nations of the world and they grieved when I told them of the suffering I witnessed in Sudan a week earlier. They are the type of people that remind me why I do what I do. They are those whom I remember when I am privileged to extend a hand of compassion to persecuted Christians in various nations and say, “This comes from your brothers and sisters in Canada.”

Jerry and Jeanette’s name were among those I gave to Dr. John Garang on January 20th, when I presented to the leader of the SPLA the signed apology forms collected by VOM. On behalf of many Canadians from across the country, I apologized to the leader of the people of south Sudan for having contributed to the suffering of the southern Sudanese people through our country’s involvement in the oil industry in Sudan. I asked if he would forgive us for this wrong and accept our heartfelt apology. Visibly moved, Dr. Garang stood, took the apology forms from my hand and graciously shook my hand and expressed his gratitude for this gesture and his appreciate for our efforts on behalf of the people of south Sudan. He promised to share this apology with the people of southern Sudan, to let them know of our solidarity with them. We promised him that we would continue to pray for him and for a just and sustainable peace in Sudan.

It was only an apology, but it was the right thing to do. Did it feed the hungry? Did it stop another bomb from falling on a school, marketplace, church, or feeding centre and cutting down children with shards of shrapnel? Did it cause the government of Sudan to rewrite the constitution acknowledging the religious rights of all of Sudan’s citizens to worship according to their own conscience? No on all accounts. But it was the right thing to do and that it is all of the justification that it needs. It was an apology given by ordinary, God-loving people like Jeanette and Jerry in Bowser, British Columbia. I praise God for every one of you who joined them in extending this act of repentance to our brothers and sisters in this war torn nation. It was an honour to be your representative.

(Note: the feature article in the April edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter will focus on VOM’s latest ministry trip to south Sudan. Don’t miss a single issue of this free one-of-a-kind publication. Subscribe today online at http://www.persecution.net/nlorder.htm).

*********************************** The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. (Mailing address: P.O. Box 117, Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4L5) Tel. (905) 670.9721. Fax: (905) 670.7642 Website: http://www.persecution.net

*********************************** Contact Person: Glenn Penner, Communications Director.

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