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Christianity Today, May (Web-only), 2008 |

Aiding China's Shaken Church

Franklin Graham discusses outreach after the Sichuan earthquake.

Interview by Stan Guthrie | posted 5/23/2008 10:56AM

Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), was in China at the invitation of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the Three-Self ...

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Art Hill

Posted: May 27, 2008 11:35 AM

Franklin Graham is correct. God is able to turn the hearts of the king. Prayers of faith are the greatest offering we can make to help in the evangelization of China. Many will rush to the Olympics under their own fleshly zeal, never ever hearing a "Go ye" from the Holy Spirit. God is almost never into a one-shot "fix" but, rather, tells us to "Go make disciples," not just quick "pray this prayer" converts (which, at best, are questionable). When we go into an area like this we should come under the authority of the local and area church. They know what's going on and how we can help. But like so many of us Americans, we think we know everything and are free to act totally independent as individuals. The underground church in China has been given much wisdom about how to evangelize. My advice, if you are planning to go to the China Olympics to evangelize, please yield yourself to the leadership of the underground China church to be a yielded servant to help in how they want.

Steve

Posted: May 25, 2008 11:06 PM

Polycarp, with all do respect using the line "I found no scriptural basis for his advice," is just a cop out. To say I "believe we should preach the gospel in season and out of season" -- even if it gets our brothers and sisters in Christ killed or persecuted and sets back the work of the church 10 years is just the sort of self centered "Me and God and who cares about the rest of the world" theology that doesn't shed a tear at the deaths of thousands from the earthquake because "this could be a sign of the end times, and I might get to go to heaven sooner." For I was naked and you did not clothe me.

Douglas

Posted: May 25, 2008 10:57 PM

I am a supporter of VOM and think they do fabulous work. I also work in China, primarily with underground church leaders. The Underground church is persecuted, but it is not universal, sometimes it is severe, sometimes years can go by and local officials get along with the church. As for the TSPM churches, some are not much more than government pawns and others are allowed by the local leaders to be very evangelistic. Underground church members were recently called upon by the local officials to help in the earthquake rescue mission -- and they did so. My point, is there persecution, yes, is there change, yes, is it consistently bad for Christians, no, is it consistently good, no. I have met several government officials who are believers, two of which are part of the Chairmans inner circle and the others are not but are also members of the Communist party, though they don't believe in communism. Confusing? Yes. But God is doing amazing things -- 30,000 new Christians a day!

Polycarp

Posted: May 25, 2008 2:16 PM

I respect BGEA because of the impeccable intergrity of its founder Billy Graham. However in this instance I beg to disagree with Franklin's advise to those who will be visiting China for the Olympics not to preach the gospel because of the fear of persecution the church may likely face when they are long gone. I found no scriptural basis for his advise. I believe as christians we should preach the gospel in season and out of season.

song.my

Posted: May 24, 2008 4:46 AM

I agree with Jeanne. I have received many newsletters from Voice of the Martyrs and persecution of Christians in China seems to be a frequent occurrence and does not seem to abate. We are to share the Good News to the end of the earth....and at times we need to take risks and make sacrifices. Those who can afford to visit China in the coming Olympics should remember the blessings God granted them and they should take the opportunity to share Christ to the people of China. If we are afraid of what the Chinese Government is going to do after the Olympics is over, I think we are belittling God's sovereignty and control. We should focus on His greatness and not what China's ruling elite can and may do. Whether the Word is shared or not, the persecution will continue...are we to deprive the people of the Good News given this opportunity of a lifetime?

Peter F. Benson, editor UNITYINCHRIST.COM

Posted: May 24, 2008 4:44 AM

Samaritan's Purse is one of the major international Christian evangelistic C.A.R.E. organizations. Evangelism walks on two legs, one leg is the actual preaching of the Word, what some call "witnessing", which can take various forms, like the spoken word, the written word, radio, TV, videos etc. The other, which is oft neglected, is the actions believers in Jesus perform to help those in need, whoever and wherever they might be. Samaritan's Purse is one of those major international evangelistic organizsations UNITYINCHRIST.COM features and supports for this very reason ( I think the link is http://www.unityinchrist.com/evangelism/samaritan_purse.htm ). I suggest on the site's Mission Statement ( http://www.unityinchrist.com/missionstatement.htm ) a simple and easy way to cover all bases in giving to the major international evangelistic organizations, so that each of these two essential "legs" of evangelism are given the proper financial emphasis in our giving. Check it out.

Jeanne Oppelaar

Posted: May 23, 2008 7:39 PM

I think that Franklin Graham doesn't really know anything about the persecuted underground church!! Thousands are in prison and tortured for believing in Jesus. The huge churches where he preached are all make belief....they have to preach Communism as their God. I am sure that after Franklin left China most of those people who went forward to receive Christ will now be tortured to death in prisons all over China. They are afraid of the Christians that meet secretly in underground house churches. Those believers cannot worship in the Government run churches as they know that Communism instead of God is worshiped. I receive monthly newsletters WITH PHOTOS from Voice of the Martyrs and I also receive information from Open Doors. That is what really happens in China. NO FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!!!!

rjr.fan

Posted: May 23, 2008 3:41 PM

"Because when the Olympics are over and everybody's gone, the church is still there. Christians from outside could do or say something that could jeopardize church-state relations for years to come." 20-some years ago, when a prominent preacher said from a Russian pulpit that he didn't see any persecution in the Soviet Union, this propaganda coup for the Communists caused years of torment for the Christians who had to live with the aftermath of the Big Guy's Carnival. At least, this is what Aleksandr Soltszhenitsn reported. Short-term missions are fun -- but if our fun takes priority over the real welfare of God's people, then our priorities need to be re-examined.

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