Beijing update - your prayers are needed

The 29th Summer Olympic Games are in full swing here in Beijing. As people from all around the world have converged upon this city, we are here to tell them about something that is more valuable than the gold medals that will be presented to those athletes who win their events. We are here to them how they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Our challenges have been many. But we understand that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.

We typically do not work with translators because the internationals who travel to the Olympics overwhelming speak English. In many host countries, there are nationals who speak English so we end up sharing with those God brings across our path.

Here in China it is very different. Many Chinese speak English, however religious proselytizing is prohibited. So to purposely go against the government is to risk having our ministry to all of the internationals shut down.

One of our contacts at another countries embassy told us the Chinese government brought in more than 300,000 additional plainclothes security personnel to watch for what they would deem “subversive” activities. There have been a number of times that some of our team has been approached in a most unusual manner by a Chinese national. In fact, it was as if the person was baiting us – trying to get us to share the gospel with them. Well, God has protected us so far and we know that your prayers are part of it.

A high ranking official from the South Korean embassy met a group of our team members as they were out sharing the gospel in one of the event venues. To show his appreciation for what they were doing, he took them to a first class Korean restaurant, paid for their transportation to it, and picked up the entire cost of their seven course meal. But God was in the midst of all that was happening because as the evening wore on, he and his wife had many questions about Christianity.

Being here in Beijing has allowed another of the tragic truths of this country to be seen first hand. During the Olympics many of the factories have closed in order to improve the air quality. Schools are closed as well. This results in many families being out and about. I knew there was something unusual about the families I was seeing. After a couple of days I realized what it was. The families only had one child. The one child policy is a Chinese government mandate. The tragedy that underlies this policy is the millions of unborn lives lost to abortion…both voluntary and forced.

Please continue to pray that the gospel will saturate this land, and that our time here will be all that God wants it to be.

From the 2008 Beijing Olympics, for WorldReach, this is Jerry Haas.