Some IPC folk joined a second gathering at Herrnhut this year, with complementary themes to the May 2017 IPC gathering. Here is the report…
When the Earth Shook....
To the Global Watch family:
The Global Watch carries much of the spiritual DNA of Herrnhut Germany. As such, we are relaying a summary of a significant landmark gathering in Herrnhut, Germany August 11-18th, 2017 on the 290 year anniversary of the outpouring. People from 30+ nations (including villagers) gathered in Herrnhut, Germany to seek the Lord and "Re-dig" the well of revival that took place there, August 13, 1727. The Lord took us to this defining moment surely pointing to a "set time." The supernatural connections and events that led us to the convening were marked by "Only God could do" confirmations. The gathering was a distinct call of God, and those in attendance came as a response to that call at significant price and sacrifice. We are humbled by the numerous stories of God’s obvious hand and provision on how many heard from God and provided supernaturally for their journey. None came for any recompense, even speakers, and worship leaders. Most came with a stated desire to “Encounter” God. It has been our experience that when we ask for such experiences, often the “Encounter” comes in ways we do not expect or understand. Our sense from the beginning with the lightning strike on God’s acre (confirmed by some of the youth who were there when it happened), to the end, there was a divine message and “Power encounter” with God that ensued and sense of spiritual birth and shift in atmosphere. Signs followed.
Scripturally, the earth shook when Jesus died; the waters parted when Israel was delivered from Egypt, and when the priests stepped into the Jordan to take Israel into the promised land, to name a few. During creation God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years." Suffice it to say, signs can emphasize "set times" of the Lord. In set times, such as in Abraham's time, the promises of God come true, Genesis 17:21. They are times when God is emphasizing His purpose and need for focus, perhaps a correction of course (Habakkuk 2:1). It is not "super spiritualization," but rather an apprehending the times of the Lord, to be noted and to draw our attention to Him, the Lord of Hosts. Not to underestimate, but rather give focus, the acronym “PRICE" has come to mind describing the experience at “Watchmen Rise and Build” week in Herrnhut. We experienced the following, each in our distinctive way:
P- Power Encounter with God
R- Re-setting and re-aligning us with our
I- Identity in Christ individually and corporately
C- Commissioning and
E- Empowering us forward
In very "Brief" review, a few hours before the meeting in Herrnhut started, the area encountered a lightning and thunder strike that "Shook" the earth. The testimony of the lightning strike that "Shook the earth" hit "God's Acre" has come through young adults on sight at the Watch tower when it happened. Many of the residents in Herrnhut and those of us there were suddenly riveted to attention. Residents of Herrnhut said they have never witnessed anything like it. That was the beginning of the Lord of Hosts taking command of a meeting that only time will tell of its significance. Suffice it to say; the "Summit" was at the very least provoking, if not life changing for many of those in attendance. Why? Because the Lord of Hosts met us.
Getting serious with God, Tuesday evening, August 15th a travail broke out that led many into the wee hours of the morning weeping in surges across the room. The meeting was closed to allow God to "deal" with each one of us individually as deep repentance took over the convening. The sense of spiritual birth was real. This spiritual nature of the travail was confirmed when reports reached us of similar manifestations happening at the same time on a University campus in Egypt and in two prayer groups in California. That night a massive thunderstorm hit Europe, shutting down many of Europe's airports.
In very "Brief" review, a few hours before the meeting in Herrnhut started, the area encountered a lightning and thunder strike that "Shook" the earth. The testimony of the lightning strike that "Shook the earth" hit "God's Acre" has come through young adults on sight at the Watch tower when it happened. Many of the residents in Herrnhut and those of us there were suddenly riveted to attention. Residents of Herrnhut said they have never witnessed anything like it. That was the beginning of the Lord of Hosts taking command of a meeting that only time will tell of its significance. Suffice it to say; the "Summit" was at the very least provoking, if not life changing for many of those in attendance. Why? Because the Lord of Hosts met us.
Getting serious with God, Tuesday evening, August 15th a travail broke out that led many into the wee hours of the morning weeping in surges across the room. The meeting was closed to allow God to "deal" with each one of us individually as deep repentance took over the convening. The sense of spiritual birth was real. This spiritual nature of the travail was confirmed when reports reached us of similar manifestations happening at the same time on a University campus in Egypt and in two prayer groups in California. That night a massive thunderstorm hit Europe, shutting down many of Europe's airports.
Key concepts and ‘take home’ messages from Herrnhut:
- Revival begins with us; many commented on a new desire and call to prayer and intimacy with God. Psalm 34:18
- God is retrieving seeds, past vision, purpose, plans that have fallen to the ground and have died to now raise them up. John 12:24; Isaiah 58:12
- Watchmen are key to the formation and release of the government of God and peace in our communities and cities. 2 Kings 11; Isaiah 9:7
- Not only is ongoing corporate prayer and informed intercession important, but the infrastructure of relationship is vital to a sustained move of God and transformation.
- Gender and generational integration is integral to the formation and sustenance of communities of committed prayer, i.e. "Watches." Malachi 4:6
- Small groups meeting in homes, or houses of prayer are included and should not be intimidated in this grass roots call. They are vital parts of the building necessary to bridge our cities/states/nations.
- The harvest time includes re-alignment of personal and corporate identity. Part of that alignment will include the church coming into its fullness of the understanding of Ekklesia. Watchmen will be key in facilitating that shift as they align with their God-given identity and call. Habakkuk 2:1-3; Isaiah 62:6-7; Romans 11:25
- Commitment to core values forms solid foundations for healthy relationships, bred in a culture of honor, and continued growth and expansion.
Key Scriptures:
John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."
John 15:1-15
Isaiah 58:12 "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, and Restorer of Streets to Dwell in."
Isaiah 54
Psalm 46
Isaiah 9:7
2 Kings 11
INVITE GOING FORWARD: Whatever your take on the convening, understanding the role and construct of the “Watch” and being “Watchmen” in repairing the breaches, and restorers of the understanding of Ekklesia are powerful transformational concepts. It was a message that shook the earth, and the heavens declared its impact and import. Now the commission is to go forward. It's time to carry the seed of Herrnhut forward into the nations and nurture it to fruition.
Greetings to you from Chiang Mai, Thailand! We trust you are doing well and enjoying the presence of God in life and ministry.
The Organizing Committee of the upcoming Abandoned Devotion Conference in Chiang Mai is looking forward to a powerful time together from January 15-19, 2018.
More information and register here: https://www.svm2.net/special-events/adconference/
There are great shifts taking place globally in the mission movement. One of these is the priority of the Holy Spirit that effective ministry flows out of who we are becoming spiritually. We will consider together some of the important dynamics and implications of this important truth in cross-cultural mission.
We invite you to help advocate for this timely and important conference in your networks and spheres of influence. There are several ways to do so:
- Plan to personally join the conference and bring a group from your organization/ church/ local ministry
- Send the attached conference flyer to your organization/ association/ network constituencies
- Make Facebook posts on your organization/ church/ local ministry page linking to the conference webpage here.
Join us in praying for all the preparations of the conference and those participating. May this conference be used of the Lord to take His church further in effectively partnering with Jesus in His Great Commission.
Thank you for spreading the word about this conference…
Ryan Shaw
SVM2 International Lead Facilitator
With only 61 days till 2018 it is time to begin preparing to start the New Year off with a wave of prayer around the nations.
We invite our brothers and sisters in Christ, prayer groups, and churches to join us all over the world to pray at sunrise on New Year's Day 2018 at a public location like a hill, lookout or landmark in your city or town.
Register your 'Public' or 'Private' and join the Facebook Event and let's get the conversation started.http://www.sunriseprayerrelay.org/
Invite your friends, prayer groups and churches to join in the New Year's Day Sunrise Prayer Relay and together let's start 2018 with prayer, because when people pray God moves.
December 5-7, 2017
Saddleback Church
Lake Forest, CA
Finishing The Task is an association of mission agencies and churches who want to see reproducing churches planted among every people groups in the world. Does this passion also burn in your heart? Then we invite you to join us this year at the 2017 Finishing The Task Conference!
"I attended my first Finishing The Task conference in December [2016]...[the speakers] inspired me to get more involved and be more intentional with the task of the Great Commission"
— Kent Kiefer, CEO of Scriptures In Use
Who Should Attend?
If you identify with one or more of the following categories, this conference is for you!
- Sending Organization/Church
- You want to send (or help send) gospel workers to plant multiplying churches among Unengaged, Unreached People Groups (UUPGs).
- Resource Provider
- You indirectly engage UUPGs by gathering resources (i.e., finances, training, or media tools).
- Mission Mobilizer
- You promote the engagement of UUPGs by increasing awareness, vision-casting, and connecting potential gospel workers and resources with engagement opportunities.
- Prayer/Prayer Leader or Mobilizer
- You promote the engagement of UUPGs through prayer in building a platform of prayer, awareness building, vision casting and connecting prayer as a foundational aspect and resource with opportunities among UUPGs
This is a hands-on conference where you will interact with others to discover where the Lord is leading you!
More info and sign up: http://finishingthetask.org/
Who Are the Keynote Presenters?
Paul Eshleman — Director, Finishing the Task
Paul Eshleman is Vice President of Networks and Partnerships for Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ International). Paul founded the JESUS Film Project and served as its Director for 25 years. He led the nationwide “I Found it Campaign”, EXPLO 72, and recently headed the Strategy Working Committee for the Lausanne Movement. Paul currently serves as the Executive Director of the Finishing the Task Network and President of the Issachar Initiative. He and his wife Kathy have two adult children and live in Orange County, CA.
Rick Warren — Pastor, Saddleback Church
Pastor Rick Warren founded Saddleback Valley Community Church with his wife Kay more than 30 years ago. Today, the church, located in Lake Forest, Calif., is one of the 10 largest and most influential churches in America. Recognizing his far-reaching influence, Pastor Warren developed The PEACE Plan to partner with churches, businesses and NGOs to Promote reconciliation, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation. Pastor Warren is also the author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” the bestselling non-fiction hardback in publishing history.
Louie Giglio — Pastor, Passion City Church
Louie Giglio is Pastor of Passion City Church and the Founder of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus.
Since 1997, Passion has gathered collegiate-aged young people in events across the US and around the world. Most recently, Passion 2017 gathered more than 55,000 students in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome in one of the largest collegiate gatherings in its history.
In addition to the collegiate gatherings of Passion Conferences, Louie and his wife Shelley lead the teams at Passion City Church, sixstepsrecords and the Passion Global Institute. Louie is the author of The Comeback, The Air I Breathe, I Am Not But I Know I Am, and Goliath Must Fall, releasing May 2017.
Nik Ripken — Global Missioligist, IMB and Author, "The Insanity of God"
Dr. Nik and his wife, Ruth, are mission veterans for over 32 years with the International Mission Board, having served in Malawi, Transkei, South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Germany, Ethiopia, and the Middle East.
Nik has a B.A. in Religion and History, along with a Masters and Doctorate in Ministry and both he and Ruth currently serve as Global Missiologists. Dr. Ripken is the author of many articles on missions and, along with Ruth, has done extensive research among the persecuted in approximately 70 countries. He is the author of "The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected" and "The Insanity of Obedience: Walking with Jesus in Tough Places". In cooperation with B&H Publishing, a curriculum based upon both books was developed in 2016 and a documentary based on "The Insanity of God" was released nationwide in 2016.
May our Abba fulfil you with His everlasting joy, love, grace and revelation.
We, the planning team would like to invite you to join us for the UPRISING Bolivia Gathering to be held at Cochabamba, Bolivia, Nov 29 Dec 2, 2017. In 1972, Bolivia, experienced a visitation from the Lord through a national revival, where one of the prophecies received was; “Bolivia, small and despised among the nations, but dear to my heart, I will cause that a great revival will be brought forth from you.” Despite the ancestral bad reports on our country, the youth in our nation is ready to envision the fulfilment of that call.
At the beginning of this year, the brethren in Bolivia dreamed of an UPRISING in our country and were summoned to earnestly pray about it, and believe that our Lord Jesus Christ designated our nation to become the site of the next UPRISING. We believe UPRISING will be an event that will affect the whole American Continent. The date set for the event is November 29 to December 2, at the Colonial Hotel, in the city of Cochabamba, interesting enough; the location of the event is the geographical center of our 9 States country.
UPRISING Bolivia will gather different denominational networks to impart worship and plenary sessions about a global revival and mission movement among the youth, children and women. Leaders of national, regional and international networks of prayer are being invited to share, pray, listen, learn and collaborate in the new strategies we believe the Lord will give us for Bolivia and our Continent. The first day, a National Worship & Praise Altar will be displayed at Plaza de Las Banderas, for a transformation cry out over our Nation and region, while 700 young leaders will actively participate in the four-day gathering.
We would like to have your honorable presence and would love for you to join us at the UPRISING Bolivia event. We truly know that God's heart and anointing has been imparted among the fathers and mothers of our nation and now it will be passed on our youth and this generation.
Feel free to visit our web page: http://uprisingbol.pdlanzas.org for more information. We hope that you will invest your valuable time and effort to be part of the next movement of God surging from Bolivia to the nations and the world.
Every blessing in Christ,
On behalf of the Church in Bolivia,
Manuel Alejandro de la Torre UgarteCadima
Director MinisterioPuntas de Lanzas
UPRISING Bolivia 2017 Convenor
The Ethne Strategic Prayer Group together with the Fellowship of Prayer Strategists are embarking on an ambitious project to collate and revise existing material on prayer training with additional new material to produce simple, replicable prayer training material for 6 of the following profile groups. The aim is to multiple and mobilize the body of Christ to pray effectively for the remaining unreached groups and those with little access to the Gospel.
Please stand with the team in prayer as we meet together for this intensive time of responding to the Holy Spirits leading to produce material for this season of urgent effective prayer.
For more information please write to:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. receive the prayer shield information sheet and details of online calls during the 5-9th Nov event.
6 Identified Types of Prayer Training Needed:
- Prayer training in Discovery Bible Study (DBS) format for new believers especially those which would be coming out from efforts of strategy teams, to especially include praying for the Unreached peoples.
- Prayer training for churches wanting to help their congregations learn how to better engage in prayer for Unreached people's. Churches are calling their people to prayer; how do we help see that they are not only praying inwardly for themselves, their families, their churches, their neighborhoods (which is our Jerusalem), but also prayer for the Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth?
- Prayer training for New prayer coordinators and/or those wanting to sharpen their skills for serving organizations/networks/partnerships;
- Prayer training for "twinning" project like Inherit the Nations which would be matching communities of prayer with frontline field workers representing specific UPGs/teams. Training would be for both the frontline worker representatives as well as the prayer communities’ leaders.
- Training for Children learning about and praying for UPGs;
- Prayer strategists with strategy teams (Ephesus vision) prayer training on the "spheres of prayer" involved as strategy in igniting movements to Christ (probably also in DBS format where possible with attending bibliographies)
Thank you for standing with us,
Jenny Oliphant and Liz Adleta
http://www.ethne.net
From A Journey to Victorious Praying by Bill Thrasher
Praying in the Spirit is leaningupon the Spirit not only for Hismotivation and His enablementbut also for His guidance.
Wesley Duewel was on a tripfrom India to the United Statesand fighting a fever. He thought,If only I could find one Christianand ask him to pray for me.
In describing the experience, he states,
“Suddenly . . .
Read complete excerpt here >>>
Visit Pray.Network at: http://praynetwork.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
Funds will be utilized to produce a 7-8 minute compelling mobilization video that will focus on aspects of the following three directions that came out of the Herrnhut consultation. It will point the viewers to how they can get closely connected and practically involved in the fulfilment of His Great Commission and the transformation of our world:
1) Reaching the unreached with the Gospel, stirring the Church to unity, linking prayer and mission for finishing the task, adoption of every unengaged unreached people group in the coming 5-10 years (IPC is taking part in "Finishing the Task" event in early December with hundreds from mission agencies attending and expect to present the video there.)
2) Raising up the next generation of youth and children to find their unique missions in life and impact generations to come for Christ and His purposes. In the coming decade, we need to see children and youth prayer movements develop, be connected, and strengthened in every nation on earth- they are probably going in one-third of the nations now. The IPC-related Children in Prayer movement and UPRISING youth movements are helping to extend the vision currently. There are half dozen national youth assemblies in planning for the coming year from Mongolia to Bolivia, Brazil to South Africa, Europe, and Canada culminating with the Global Youth Prayer Uprising in Indonesia (Oct 2018). We would like to show the video at each assembly to challenge the youth and children to pray and follow His call to reach the unreached peoples and serve their generation.
3) Transformational prayer for breakthroughs in the socio-political realms (Global Gates, Seven Mountains, regional summits, national initiatives, wars and human suffering, etc.)
Please be in prayer specifically for:
- Holy Spirit inspiration on best way to depict historical Moravian story (actor re-enactments vs art/graphics)
- Acquisition of footage of children and youth praying from around the world
- Anointed, focused selection and scripting as we review 25+ hours of Herrnhut interview footage
- Timely finish of Whatcom Story 2 production.
- Covering over the entire Lienau family:
Michael & Shari/Camano Island with 4 teens, Tatsi, Corina, Esther and Joshua
Jacob, Joseph, Janey/Kona, HI
Anna, husband Ben, daughter Selah, baby due 12/2, /Pasadena, CA
Bibi, fiance Joseph, sons Link, Jack (salvation!) /Portland, OR
Film overview:
Building on the inspiration of the Moravians' experience and the recent Herrnhut prayer and mission leaders consultation, the film will take viewers in these directions and on the journey with us in the international prayer and mission movement towards its fulfillment in Matthew 24:14. It will help shift the paradigm of the average believer's materialistic, even fatalistic worldview to understand and act upon the Book of Acts model and culture of engagement with the Lord in prayer (Acts 1:14), leading to revival and breakthroughs in mission that originally "turned the world upside down" and can do so again.
This project is a collaboration of (IPC) International Prayer Council and LifeNet Media Resources, whose directors produced the highly effective short video "The Whatcom Story" for Light of the World Prayer Center, which has had a significant impact in various US cities and states and internationally as it conveys the vision for the "One Church, One Day" initiative.
There are key distribution opportunities for this film to be featured at major conferences, on websites and potentially broadcast internationally. We believe this film project will be powerfully used of the Holy Spirit. It will be an engine for the ongoing linking of the prayer and mission movements and a much used resource for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. We also hope to see it get translated and used widely around the world, especially to fire up the younger generation to the unique missions the Lord has for them.
To complete production and post-production of this mobilization video project, LifeNet Media requires $20,000.
Strategy and Project Plan
Background
Two months ago in May, 120 prayer and missions leaders from around the world came together in Herrnhut, Germany. These courageous, faithful men and women were summoned to pray, discuss, and re-focus current strategies to reach the still unreached peoples of our day unto fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission.
This un-precedented consultation was located at the site of the historic Moravian Church, where, in the early 1700’s, Count Zinzendorf led a small band of refugees in a 100-year prayer meeting that would launch one of the greatest missionary movements since the book of Acts. Sandwiched between two of the most significance places in European Church history, lies Herrnhut, Germany. Wittenberg is to the west, commemorating the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation, and an equal distance to the east is Prague, where Jan Huss was martyred.
Our team at LifeNet Media was invited to document this unique gathering, and capture one-on-one interviews with prayer and mission leaders from around the world, including Dick Eastman (Every Home for Christ), Paul Eschelman, (CRU), Leslie Keegel, (Foursquare Int’l), and many others more obscure and hidden in mission exploits and territories. We filmed thrilling stories of Gospel advancement in the nations, and believe these testimonies are unto “fueling the prayers of the saints”.
In our media proposal, four elements combine to communicate a timely message to the modern Church.
- The historic spiritual backdrop of this recent meeting,
- the passionate unity of believers displayed,
- the strategic planning of the consultation, and
- powerful interviews testifying of the link between prayer and reaching the lost.
These components have inspired the making of this short, focused, video-story-message that will be used to multiply vision for “completing the task”.
Key Viewing and Distribution Opportunities:
There is an expressed need for this project to be completed in a timely way in order to meet key viewing and distribution opportunities at upcoming major conferences, on websites and potentially broadcast internationally. This will be coordinated closely with John Robb at IPC and through his many relationships and networks.
IPC is taking part in "Finishing the Task" event in early December 2017 with hundreds from mission agencies attending and we expect to present, if not premier this video there.
There are a half-dozen national youth assemblies in planning for the coming year from Mongolia to Bolivia, Brazil to South Africa, Europe, and Canada, culminating with the Global Youth Prayer Uprising in Indonesia (Oct 2018).
We believe this film project will be powerfully used of the Holy Spirit. It will be an engine for the ongoing linking of the prayer and mission movements and a much-used resource for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. We also hope to see it get translated and used widely around the world, especially to fire up the younger generation to the unique missions the Lord has for them.
Timeline
July 2017 - Funding, research, outlining, scripting, approvals from advisory board.
Aug 2017 - Through September - Any additional production and post production.
Oct 2017 - Through November - graphics, music, sound design, color, mastering, Blu-ray/DVD duplication.
Dec 2017 - Distribution launch. Premier at “Finishing the Task” event, December 5-7, Lake Forest, California.
Advisory Board /Key people involved in direction and approvals of this project.
John Robb - International Prayer Council
Jason Hubbard - Light of the World Prayer Center
Tom Victor - The Great Commission Coalition, IPC
Michael Lienau - LifeNet Media Resources
Shari Lienau - LifeNet Media Resources
More at: http://www.globalnetproductions.com/
Warm greetings to you in the name of Christ our Lord!
These are exciting times for the Stop Child Witch Accusation coalition. The movement is gathering momentum, and more and more people are becoming aware of witchcraft accusations against children and committing to take action on the issue. 'The Heart of the Matter', our new training resource to help church leaders address witchcraft accusations is nearly ready, following a set of pilot events which exceeded all our expectations. And later this month, Pastor Ngolo of EPED and BCT's Carolyn Gent will represent SCWA at a United Nations workshop on witchcraft accusations, in Geneva.
With so many exciting and significant events happening around SCWA, and so much potential to scale-up what the coalition is doing, we need the support of our prayer partners more than ever. So we are inviting you to join us in a short prayer campaign in which we will lift to God our praise and petition and ask him to make possible what others say is impossible – bringing an end to this form of abuse against children. The campaign, ‘Standing in the Gap’, will run from now until January 2018. In this period, we will send you two bulletins a month, highlighting new points for prayer.
You will find the first batch of prayer points at: http://stop-cwa.org/posts/prayer-bulletin-no1-2017
We have seen on many occasions that God does amazing things when we pray. Thank you for standing with us in this new prayer initiative. I would be so grateful John if you would circulate this to others in your prayer networks, so that they too can join with us in praying for God to stir and equip his people to bring an end to this form of child suffering and abuse.
Grace and peace.
Susie Howe - Director
The Bethany Children’s Trust
http://www.bethanychildrenstrust.org.uk
IPC’s good friend Charles Huang has sent us this prayer briefing to encourage us to pray for Taiwan.
I recently came back from attending ‘Yeshua153’ in Taiwan in which 1,750 people prayed and worshiped in front of the Presidential Palace of Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.) and then went on a 3 days 2 nights cruise (counter-clock direction for prophetic breakthroughs) around Taiwan interceding and praying for Taiwan. The first day we had more than 300 shofar blowers on Rosh Hashannah/ Jewish New Year/ Feast of Trumpet blowing Shofar in front of the Presidential palace and then later on got on the big cruise ship and sailed southward and then to an island territory west of Taiwan called Pon-Hu Island (a province of Taiwan) where the governor is a born-again Christian who welcomed Jesus into his land as King.
We had parade, praise & worship on the island and then continued the travel around Taiwan till we returned back to the port in northern Taiwan.
See the following link for 12 minutes YouTube from the GoodNews Christian TV of Taiwan http://goodtvnews.goodtv.tv/goodtvnews/2017video53/
Mainland China: official name is PROC (People’s Republic of China).
TAIWAN: official name is ROC (Republic of China) and called by the Dutch as “Formosa” (beautiful island).
Similar to North and South Korea, East and West Germany. One is controlled by one communist party in China but Taiwan has multiple political parties and is a democracy.
Christian population in mainland China according to estimate is: 10%.
Communism is based on atheism and mainland Chinese churches have been growing in spite of persecutions and governmental restrictions in the past.
Christian population In Taiwan is about 6.53% with Han Chinese and other ethnic groups and more than 90% of the indigeneous people/ or the Natives of Taiwan are born-again Christians.
There are now more than 50 mega-churches in Taiwan with more than 1,000 members each.
The churches in Taiwan have become more influential than before and the GoodNewsTV station has become blessings to the churches Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and even many people in mainland China are listening and watching the television broadcasts. So Taiwan’s many Christians are blessings mainland China.
Christian influences in China
The founding father of ROC (founded in 1911 after overthrowing the Chin清 Dynasty) Dr. Sun Yat Sen was a Christian medical doctor. He along with some of his revolutionary members were Christians. Dr. Sun even openly preached sermons. After him, the first President after him Ching Kai Shek was a Christian who had converted from Budhism because of his Christian wife. The most influential person was a pastor in China by the name of Charlie Song who had 2 daughters (both married to the founding father and the 1st President of Republic of China).
Pray for Taiwan Video
Taiwan is a key: many missionaries have to go there to receive language training.
Recently hosted International University Students Sports events on the island in Taipei with 135 nations.
Many pastors and churches love Israel and go to Israel yearly for the feasts.
There are 2 Jewish synagogues in Taiwan.
There is a Holocaust museum in southern Taiwan built by a Taiwanese Native pastor.
Christianity first spread to China around 唐(Tang) dynasty (year 635) at the time through Nestorianism from Persia. During the Han dynasty there was already a Silk Road that crossed to the west. There was communications between the Chinese and Indians, Persians, Jewish people, and the Romans. Protestants mission began in the early 19th century, 200 years after the Catholics. 1624-1662 Holland occupied Taiwan and began to send missionaries there in 1626 and many many converts (mainly Natives) and established schools. From 1807 Robert Morrison from England went to China for 27 years and built a firm foundation for Christianity in China.
Later, London Mission Society sent William Milne (England), Walter Medhurst (England).
Elijah Bridgman (1801~1961) was the 1st American Missionary sent to China in 1830 inspired by Robert Morrison.
According to an older Taiwanese-American Pastor who lives in California and has ministered to believers and leaders both in Taiwan and mainland China:“China during the Dynasties of 夏商&周 was actually a God-fearing nation so it was called “God’s Country” and so there was a heavenly altar in Peking, the altar there did not have any idols but only worship of the true God in heaven. It was not until after the Communists took over, Marxism came into the country. Then, in 1949 all the missionaries were kicked out of the country, closed down the churches. It was in the 1950s all the churches were closed down and all the ministers were asked to leave, no Bibles, no Hymns and the population of Christians was about 700,000 and grew to about 100 times now to at least 70 million~ 100 million. Also, more people in China not only the countryside but many intellectuals went outside the country to study approximately 1/10 of all the people believes in Jesus and some already returned to the universities and in the future some will be working in the government playing important roles and University as professors. Now there are a lot of businessmen all who have become Christians. So, not only country side, there are city churches, and churches for the intellectuals. China is becoming a mission church, later there will be the most missionaries coming from China. Even through “One Belt, One Road” from the ocean, ground, bringing the gospel back to Jerusalem. China will become the nation sending the most missionaries in the world. God is with China and Chinese people will become the blessings for all the nations.
Chinese people, the yellow race will become blessings to the world.
Even though there is more governmental restrictions coming from the Communist government of China but it will result in the church being purified and remove all the drosses and impurities.
So every Christian in China knows that they need to pay a price to be a believer and not just be a Christian which will harm the church and not benefit. To be serious about being a Christian.”
Shalom,
Charles Huang