As I sit here at Heathrow International Airport in transit to Cape Town for Lausanne III, I've been meditating on the words shared by my Chinese brothers who were blocked from attending the Congress. While it saddens me to know that they won't be able to join me and over 4000 Christian leaders for this historic gathering, I'm impressed by their trust in God's sovereignty.
Here are some excerpts from my friends that may encourage you in your walk of faith:
Thanks for your prayers. Just a quick note, last night we accepted the result quietly and with hope. We will have the Lausanne 3rd here in the coming days. I am so sorry we can not meet you and our brothers and sisters face to face.
The following verses encourage us a lot:
Philippians 1:29 & 30 — "For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well, since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have."
2 Corinthians 6:3 - 10 — "We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
Psalm 42 — "As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, 'Where is your God?' 'I am the LORD, I am the LORD your God. You shall know that I am the LORD.' " (Many, many times!)
We are thankful for all our brothers and sisters who pray in various languages. We do pray for the Congress. Thanks for your prayer us.
Your brother
Pray for the Chinese government officials, "Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
These are the words of great leaders—followers of Jesus indeed... I admire them and commend them to you. Would you join me in praying for them as we pray for this historic Congress: Cape Town 2010?
Here are a couple reports about my friends:
- Beijing blocks delegates to Lausanne Congress - National Public Radio (NPR)
- Chinese Christians blocked from world evangelization conference - Mission Network News (MNN)
Joe Handley
