July 18, 2008
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Lest we forget....
From this morning's Voice of the Martyrs newletter:
Pastor Sentenced to Re-education Through Labor - China Aid AssociationOn July 4, Pastor Zhang Zhongxin was sentenced to two years
re-education through labor in Jining city in Shangdong province.
According to China Aid Association (CAA), "Shandong
Re-education-Through-Labor Management Committee issued a written
decision sentencing Zhang Zhongxin to two years re-education through
labor. Authorities accused him [Zhongxin] of cult participation in the
‘whole scope of the church' organized ‘Sunday school training courses,
preaching the gospel to the northwest, Tibet and other places for
missionaries and pioneers sermons.'" CAA added that in 2005, Zhongxin
established The Rainbow Missions Fellowship and Timothy Bible Training
School in Jining city, Shandong province, where Christian leaders are
trained. Zhongxin has appealed his sentence. Pray for Zhongxin and his
family during this difficult time. Ask God to give them courage as he
appeals his sentence. Ask God to protect believers in China who face
trying times as the government cracks down on believers ahead of the
Olympics next month. Deuteronomy 33:26-27I wonder why the Chinese government is stomping on Christians ahead of the Olympics?
Comments (1)
Because they don't want them getting uppity, protesting, evangelizing too publicly, or making the government look bad, maybe? Put them in their place now, so goes the thinking, and they'll not give us any trouble.
Dunno, it's just a theory, but it seems reasonable to me. Remember, these aren't folks who are likely to able to grasp the positive PR aspects of backing off of the persecution -- they're too afraid of losing control for that.
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