1 OCTOBER 2018 OCTOBER 2018

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Evelyn Lang
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Pastor Wurmbrand was imprisoned for 14 years in communist Romania in the 1940s to 1960s. He founded Voice of the Martyrs over 50 years ago to serve persecuted Christians.

There, Chris tians wear chains with the gladness with which a bride wears a precious jewel received from her beloved.

churches. The remaining 90 million Christians worship in unapproved house churches.

Chinese Christians have long experienced persecution, but restrictions on religious freedom in China are on the rise.

2 Pastor Wurmbrand was imprisoned for 14 years in communist Romania in the 1940s to 1960s. He founded Voice of the Martyrs over 50 years ago to serve persecuted Christians. FROM OUR FOUNDER Often, after a secret service, Christians were caught and sent to prison. There, Chris tians wear chains with the gladness with which a bride wears a precious jewel received from her beloved. Quoted from his book, Tortured for Christ $8 Code: B217 PERSECUTION ON THE RISE About 120 million Christians live in China, but only 30 million are affiliated with government-sanctioned state churches. The remaining 90 million Christians worship in unapproved house churches. It is difficult to state generalities about this massive nation, as what is true in one province may not be true in another. Chinese Christians have long experienced persecution, but restrictions on religious freedom in China are on the rise. Richard Wurmbrand ( ) As a result of the tougher regulations on religious affairs (that came into force on 1 February) house churches are facing increasingly aggressive measures to control their activities. EDITORIAL Christmas Care Dear Friends, As we near the end of another year, we reflect on the ever-increasing plight of children in restricted nations. Many are unable to access the Word of God and other essentials, such as basic school materials and even clothing. Persecution is often coupled with poverty and we, with your help and generosity, want to make a difference in as many lives as we can. This year, our focus is China, with its recently introduced draconian laws that prohibit religious gatherings and even prevent anyone under the age of 18 from attending church. We request your help to make a difference to Christian children in China as we provide the living Word in addition to basic necessities, to put smiles on the faces of children who most need our help. Our goal is to provide 3000 children with backpacks containing God s Word, basic school essentials and a pair of shoes, to the value of $30 each. I am reminded of the scripture in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Please partner with us as we invest into the lives of those most vulnerable, the children. God bless you., Tony Benjamin CEO President Xi s administration has been tearing down symbols of Christianity, such as crosses on churches, and imprisoning Christian lawyers who take legal action to prevent their removal. In some areas churches have been completely demolished. Crackdown on Christmas Christmas celebrations have reportedly been targeted in the crackdown with bans on anything resembling festive celebrations in some places. Last Christmas a university in the north-eastern Chinese city of Shenyang banned its students from holding any gatherings to celebrate Christmas. In recent years, some young people have been blindly celebrating Western religious festivals a directive from the Shenyang Pharmaceutical University s Communist Party Youth League branch said. It is forbidden to hold any Christmas-related event, in order to enable the broad Youth League movement to establish cultural self-confidence. In Anhui, an official public security notice declared, Public places are not allowed to celebrate Christmas. Even creating a Christmas atmosphere such as putting up Christmas trees, Santa Claus, wearing Christmas hats, and all other items related to Christmas is severely restricted. All Christmas-related activities are required to be cancelled. In Zhejiang, officials tore down a Christmas tree and in Hangzhou authorities warned Christians not to attend a Christmas celebration, leaving empty tables that had been laid and decorated, according to our partner, ChinaAid. Please pray for the millions of Christians in China who will celebrate this Christmas in secret, and possibly in fear, amidst the increasing restrictions on their freedom. 2 3

CHILDREN IN CHINA Our contacts in China report that there has been a huge increase in persecution against Christians since the new religious ordinance took effect on 1 February.

We were told that while persecution directly targeted at children, varies from province to province, it is on the increase.

The law forbids children to attend church, join any Christian group or take part in religious activities.

closely monitored to ensure they adhere to the new law that imposes heavy fines for carrying out basic church functions, including teaching children.

tolerated. House churches in provinces governed by Party officials who are opposed to Christianity suffer raids. The smaller the house church, the less likely it is to be persecuted.

3 CHILDREN IN CHINA Our contacts in China report that there has been a huge increase in persecution against Christians since the new religious ordinance took effect on 1 February. As we are planning to distribute Christmas Care packs in China this year, we wanted an update on how the new regulations affect Christian children. We were told that while persecution directly targeted at children, varies from province to province, it is on the increase. China s legislation dictates that children under the age of 18 may not receive any religious education. The law forbids children to attend church, join any Christian group or take part in religious activities. China s government sanctioned Protestant church, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, specifically prohibits children from partaking in religious activities and other state-sanctioned churches are closely monitored to ensure they adhere to the new law that imposes heavy fines for carrying out basic church functions, including teaching children. Because of this, families are attending house churches which are deemed to be illegal, although house churches in provinces governed by Party officials who are not opposed to Christianity tend to be tolerated. House churches in provinces governed by Party officials who are opposed to Christianity suffer raids. The smaller the house church, the less likely it is to be persecuted. Some house church members have been threatened with legal action if they continue to allow their children to attend church services or participate in religious activities. In many places, local police are warning against conducting ministry to children. A local government office in China s central Guizhou province delivered an ultimatum to parents attending Huaqiu Church. Parents were told that their children would be barred from university and military programs if they allowed them to attend services. government allows these schools to continue to operate. With the cost of education increasing, many Christian families cannot afford the tuition of private schools, enrolling their children instead in public schools, which all include children s chapters of the Communist Party called the Young Pioneers. Children are strongly encouraged to join this group and to wear the red bandana around their necks to show their patriotism and loyalty to the Communist Party. Furthermore, every child enrolled in infants and primary school is now required to reveal their involvement in religion to the authorities in the schools. Teachers in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, recently sent messages to the parents of school students, demanding that the parents disclose their religious beliefs. One Christian said school officials have even come to Christian parents homes and workplaces, asking them to renounce their faith. Despite the raising levels of persecution in China, and the increasing fear of the government, Christian parents have indicated that they are committed to raising their children to have a sincere and strong faith in Christ. But Jesus said, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14 4 Because of the new regulations, children s ministry in China is suffering. There are no children s ministry materials legally sold. There are no Sunday School materials, such as Veggie Tales videos. All materials are made by church members and/or printed illegally. There are no legal meetings to promote the evangelism and discipleship of children. The communist authorities have also ruled that Christians may no longer run summer camps for children. Over China s Summer, children were banned from attending Christian camps in several provinces. Our Chinese contacts report that China currently has an education crisis. The government cannot afford to build or operate enough schools to educate the children of China. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Chinese families to find a school for their children to attend. Because of this, many private schools have been established, with a percentage of these schools covertly teaching religion. These private schools help alleviate the need for more schools, so the 5

EVERY GIFT COUNTS Help us bring joy to children of the persecuted church in China.

In recent years, the emergence of online shopping created a loophole that made the Bible readily available to Chinese Christians.

the children s Bible, at online stores across the country.

We have committed to bless 3000 Chinese Christian children with a Christmas Care pack, including a children s Bible. Will you help?

4 EVERY GIFT COUNTS Help us bring joy to children of the persecuted church in China. China has always controlled sales of the Bible, allowing it to be printed and distributed only by state-sanctioned churches. In recent years, the emergence of online shopping created a loophole that made the Bible readily available to Chinese Christians. In April the Chinese government, in line with its tougher regulations on religious affairs, banned the sale of the Bible, including the children s Bible, at online stores across the country. It also banned sales from non-church bookstores, making the Bible much more difficult to obtain. We have committed to bless 3000 Chinese Christian children with a Christmas Care pack, including a children s Bible. Will you help? For only $30 you can give a child in China the gift of God s Word in a school bag. The bag will also contain a pair of shoes, socks, a towel, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soup, notebooks, pens, pencils, eraser, ruler, toy cars and a Rubik s cube. To give to this project please go to vom.com.au/christmascare x

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER for the Persecuted Church Sunday 4 November 2018 Join thousands of churches across Australia and the world in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Share this video with your church to help inspire every Christian to pray for our persecuted family members. Order your FREE IDOP resource kit today www.vom.com.

5 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER for the Persecuted Church Sunday 4 November 2018 Join thousands of churches across Australia and the world in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters. This year, Voice of the Martyrs announces the release of the IDOP video Solitary Prayer, about VOM founder Richard Wurmbrand. This video features excerpts from the new Tortured for Christ movie. Share this video with your church to help inspire every Christian to pray for our persecuted family members. Order your FREE IDOP resource kit today All donations over $2 to Voice of the Martyrs Australia are tax deductible. Westpac: BSB: Account No: Swift: WPACAU2S (for international transfers) Please include your name or supporter number in the description line. Voice of the Martyrs PO Box 250 Lawson NSW 2783 Australia phone fax info@vom.com.au Remember the prisoners as if chained with them those who are mistreated since you yourselves are in the body also. Hebrews 13:3 Published by and Voice of the Martyrs Ltd 2018 unless otherwise indicated. Names may have been changed to protect individuals' identities. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible. Copyright 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 8

1 SEPTEMBER 2018 SEPTEMBER 2018

1 SEPTEMBER 2018 SEPTEMBER 2018 1 Pastor Wurmbrand was imprisoned for 14 years in communist Romania in the 1940s to 1960s. He founded Voice of the Martyrs over 50 years ago to serve persecuted Christians. FROM OUR FOUNDER have tried