President Clinton's recent visit to China has motivated many editors to publish articles on the state of religious freedom in that country. In the blur of ink and paper, the article in the July 13 edition of CHRISTIANITY TODAY—"A Tale of China's Two Churches," by Timothy C. Morgan—afforded your readers one of the best and most comprehensive accounts of the extraordinarily complex mix of tragedy and triumph that characterizes the situation in China today.

As your article correctly noted, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is at the forefront of the "prodding engagement" approach to China. Our Presidential Appeal for Religious Liberty in China was crafted specifically to show President Clinton that numerous religious leaders nationwide, hailing from a variety of faiths, strongly support a firm yet fruitful dialogue with the Chinese leadership that presses for greater freedom of religion for the Chinese people.

Our course in China is clear. We must provide both carrot and stick to the Chinese if we are to gain even a reasonable hope of effecting change. We must acknowledge and praise the changes that have taken place in regard to religious freedom—and many have—but we must never forget the religious believers who are unjustly serving lengthy prison sentences for the "crime" of following their consciences in worshiping Almighty God.

The policy of "prodding engagement" has already begun to work; now we must continue to pray and work—and give it the time it needs to bear fruit. Articles such as Morgan's provide nurture to the greater cause—care for those persecuted for their faith—and strengthen and inform the broad-based ...