Risky Business

Just the other day, CT Senior News Writer Kim Lawton counted up the countries she has visited as a reporter: In her 11 years as a professional journalist, she has visited 16 countries on assignment. A surprising tally. Although she has worked in a variety of journalistic posts (Christianity Today’s Washington editor, UPI radio’s religion editor, managing editor for News Network International), she has recently made her primary beat religious persecution and freedom-of-conscience issues in oppressive societies.

When reporters like Kim travel, they often make sacrifices and take risks to get the story. That takes dedication. But more amazing than the risk-taking reporter is the risk-taking national who puts life or livelihood in peril in order to get the story out beyond the borders of a totalitarian regime.

Among the repressive societies Kim has visited are Vietnam and China. She visited ‘Nam in ’95 just before the U.S. renewed diplomatic ties. Christian leaders responded to secret underground news of her presence by risking their lives to meet with her. One pastor traveled several days on a bus from the highlands to tell his tales of persecution. Had that clandestine meeting with an American Christian journalist been discovered, the pastor would have faced charges of treason, punishable by a long prison term or even death.

“They risked treason charges to meet with me because they wanted people in the West to know what they were suffering because of their faith,” Kim says. “For me, it was such a humbling experience to meet with those who had already suffered so much and were willing to risk more.”

One pastor described for her–“in a very nonchalant, matter-of-fact way”–the details of his imprisonment. “He was in a crowded cell with other criminals,” Kim said, and to avoid detection, “he would whisper about the gospel in the ear of his bunkmates.” When the authorities discovered his evangelistic activity, they put him in solitary confinement. It was the only way to quash his witness.

Part of Kim’s preparation for this issue’s special report on persecution took her to Prague, to a meeting of key evangelical leaders from around the globe. Their topic for discussion and strategy: resurgent nationalism in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere.

With resurgent nationalism comes intolerance and, often, religious persecution. And evangelicals are frequently an easy target.

This issue: Kim’s news report details this new wave of persecution. Next issue: a more literary reflection on twentieth-century Christians who have made the ultimate sacrifice, a preview of Susan Bergman’s forthcoming book “Martyrs.” Both articles should move us to supportive prayer and action.