Imagine the anguish you would feel if your young children were imprisoned because of your family's stand for Jesus Christ.
Yes, people really are going to jail for their faith. As fellow believers, we pray diligently for their release.
As we partner with churches around the world to further the Gospel, we see the overwhelming financial strain of the families of pastors who have been imprisoned.
On September 8, 1999, the Chinese government declared house churches in China to be "illegal cults."
Fines: Those who operate "illegal churches" may be heavily fined (ranging from a week’s pay to a year’s wages.) Imprisonment: Prison terms may last from one day to several years in jail. Prisons often enforce 16-20 hours of hard labor per day.
Beatings: Beatings and torture are the stark reality, and the norm.
Denial of Services: The government often punishes those guilty of spreading their faith by confiscating their land, denying medical services, and denying humanitarian aid.
Intense Government Pressures: Those believers who are identified as members or leaders of a house church are subject to constant scrutiny, continual summons, public shaming and accusations, and much more.
When pastors go to prison for the Gospel, WorldServe provides financial supportfor their families and commits to pray for their release. By helping those who are suffering, we are fulfilling our responsibility and bringing great encouragement and help to these faithful servants. Their passion to preach the Gospel remains strong, even after such hardship. These suffering servants continue to boldly share Christ, regardless of the consequences.
In many countries our fellow believers are enduring great hardship, imprisonment and torture for standing for Christ and sharing their faith. Acts 11:29 urges followers of Christ to join together to provide "relief for the brethren." God's word to the church is clear: we must help those who suffer for His name's sake. Hebrews 13:3 urges us to remember those in prison as if we were their fellow prisoners. Galatians 6:10 tells us to do good to all people, especially the family of believers. In Galatians 6:2, we see that as we carry each other's burdens, we act on Christ's behalf.
The articles on the right and below provide more detail about the realities of Christian persecution and how we are helping.
The Lights of Christmas Story House church pastors in China face persecution, arrest, and imprisonment, where they are forced to do hard labor – making bricks, mining coal, putting together cigarette lighters...and even assembling Christmas lights.
• Visit the Lights of Christmas website
