“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or commandlocusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My peoplewho are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face,and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgivetheir sin and heal their land."
I believe that scripture found in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 wasgiven to a certain people at a certain time so that they would come closer to acertain God. Although the crisis before the people in those days was natural,God's aversion plan was spiritual. I believe that the Church in China has justsuccessfully averted potential disaster through the same spiritual methods ofhumility, prayer, cleanliness, and worship.
8 Reasons Why God Loves the Church in China:
1. Prayer. SEAPC has been serving China since 1985. We once received a request for new carpeting in a local church facility, and when I visited the church I saw that the carpet had been worn thin at the altar by the knees of the members in prayer. Today, reports of online prayer in China are overwhelming.
2. Obedience. Fewchurches understand and practice Holy submission unto God and unto one another.After the earthquake in Sichuan, entire church communities relocated from otherparts of China into Sichuan because God called them to give their lives toserve their brothers and sisters in their time of need. Like then, today entireChurches have heard from God and given themselves to support the church inWuhan.
3. Faithfulness. The blood of the martyrs cries out. Members of the church in China have lived through persecution for generations and have stayed faithful to the Lord. Despite persecution today in China, the Church has remained faithful to God.
4. Unity. During the communist revolution, when Christians were highly persecuted in China, believers would meet in small groups of five people and spread Bible teachings and encouragement across the nation “underground.” Today, the Church in China is remembering how effective those prayerful moments were and relying on their past to move them into the future.
5. Honor. You will not find "old people" homes or retirement communities in China. Sons and daughters of the church take care of their parents and grandparents. Young people have gone above and beyond to protect the elderly during this time in China.
6. Humility. One of the most famous pastors of the church in China quietly drove a bus from time to time to pick up families with sick kids from the train station to take to the hospital. I met him once on the bus and was shocked. He refused to receive my acknowledgment and forbid me to tell others. There are countless "No-Name" heroes in the church today who have given their lives for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
7. Compassion. Afriend of mine works 12 hours per day ministering to children with autism.Parents and children form lines through a hospital just waiting for her to carefor them. Her team has created 24-hour online care networks for those familiesand have set aside their own critical concerns to make sure those children areserved during this recent crisis.
8. Worship. Ifyou have ever entered an unmarked, secure, and secretive concrete building inChina to the sight of hundreds of shoes on the floor and the sound of freeworship and weeping from the halls inside, then you know exactly what I amtalking about. If you haven't, I feel for you. I've received a report of newMandarin worship songs sweeping across the nation at this time. I believethese are the first songs of a great revival.
China will carry the first fruits of global revival within its Church. Those nations who also choose to embrace humility, righteousness, and prayer in the days ahead will, too, take part in healing.
During the month of April, we are challenging friends around the world to focus in prayer for China and inviting you to join "Circles” — SEAPC global prayer strategy groups to receive weekly inside information and personal prayer requests from friends in China. Also, if your heart is moved to serve, God has given us an amazing platform to come alongside this church in China and to play a significant role in the revival days ahead.
SEAPC has just completed its sixth year of a 10-year cooperative agreement with the government of China to train trainers to work with children living with autism. We call this project SEAPC CARE. It's officially registered within the Beijing Autism Association under the direction of the Handicapped Federation and has succeeded in training over 1,000 Chinese workers to date. For the past several months, this project has been forced to suspend its personal treatment, training, and care for families living with autism in China. However, during the suspension, our programs have gone remote, using technology to continue direct contact with families. This shift has moved us to re-think models for growth and also maintain the success of this community's vital relational component. Answers we've found throughout this challenging time have encouraged us to implement these strategies in other places where SEAPC is serving, like Cambodian public schools.
God is healing the nation! Our spiritual change toward righteous disciplines around the globe will lead to the same results. Press on my friends. Keep your hopes up! And believe with me that the best days are yet to come.