Last week we encouraged you to take a few minutes and write Gao who has been suffering for Christ in prison for over 200 days.  I'm happy to share that another 276 letters were written to Gao, just last week!!  Amazing!  You all wrote more letters last week than in the previous few weeks before that.  Thank you so much!!

We've still got 416 letters to go before we reach 5000 letters written to Gao.  Will you write a letter today if you haven't done so yet?  Even more so, will you spread the word about Gao and get your friends, your pastor, your teacher, or your neighbor to write a letter also... it takes under 5 minutes to do this.

Please   click here to write your letter.   Please also share about Gao with your circle of influence on Facebook, Twitter and in your church and work environment.  Let's show Gao we stand with him in 2012.

You can also learn more about Gao's past and the torture he has endured, and may still possibly be enduring, by visiting FREE GAO and sign the petition.

Click here to write you letter now!  Thank you.

A few weeks ago we shared with you that we would like to reach 5000 letters written to our dear brother Gao, who is still in prison suffering for his faith in Jesus.  I'm very happy and encouraged by the response of all of you who have taken the time to write.  We have had an additional 207 letters written to Gao in the last few weeks!  Praise the Lord!

Will you help us to write 500 more letters to Gao?  It's easy and only takes a few minutes of your time.  Simply click here to write your letter.   Please also share about Gao with your circle of influence on Facebook, Twitter and in your church and work environment.  Let's show Gao we stand with him in 2012.

You can also learn more about Gao's past and the torture he has endured, and may still possibly be enduring, by visiting FREE GAO and sign the petition.

Click here to write you letter now!  Thank you.

Today I  would like to ask you to take a few minutes and write Gao Zhisheng a letter of encouragement.

We've been focusing on Gao this month since we heard the news about finding his current location.  I see it as God's mercy in providing this vital information, this way we can write directly to the prison where he is being held.

Click here to write your letter to Gao today and don't be afraid to share this with others who want to be an active voice for the persecuted church.

To learn more about Gao's past and the torture he has endured, and may still possibly be enduring, click here to visit FREE GAO and sign the petition.

I would love to see us generate 700 more letters this month, reaching 5000 individual letters written to our suffering brother.  He is standing firm in his faith for Christ, will you stand with him by writing a letter today?  Click here to write you letter now!  Thank you.

Yesterday Todd Nettleton, the Director of Media Development for The Voice of the Martyrs, appeared as a guest on In the Market with Janet Parshall to discuss the latest news concerning persecuted Christians around the world.

In their short twenty minute interview, Janet and Todd discussed the horrible persecution happening to Christians in Northern Nigeria and explained that just this year, seventy four people have been killed by the Boko Haram group which is seeking to wipe out all Christians.  Todd suggested that Christians pray for those in Nigeria who are also Christians and ask the Lord for protection and for wisdom to know how to respond to those who are persecuting them.

Todd also gave an update about Gao who was recently found in a prison in China, that is out in the outskirts of China.  He explained that Gao's brother had tried to visit him, only to be denied access and he discussed the prison giving conflicting reasons why he wasn't allowed to see Gao.

Todd also shared a little bit about prison ministry in China and a story about a female Christian prisoner in China who shared that it was a good experience for her.  He explained that often, as a Western Christian, we think things that are often very contrary to the real experiences some Christians have while they are in prison.  He contrasted prison ministry in China, as being something that a pastor may do because he is in prison himself, versus how some here in  America may do prison ministry, but may have never been in prison.  Todd, wanted everyone to understand that persecuted Christians often have more joy than we may expect because they are able to share the Lord Jesus in a place where they might not have had access.

The conversation continued as Janet asked Todd about North Korea in which Todd shared that bibles are being smuggled into North Korea in creative ways, like being attached to balloons.

Todd also shared that the DVD Jesus:He Lived Among Us, has now been translated into the Korean language with both North and South Koreans working on the project.  He explained that usually there is conflict among North and South Koreans, but the making of this project shows unity that Koreans have in Christ.

The conversation ended with discussion concerning Indonesia and how persecution in Indonesia used to be from outside the government, but now has evolved to the government persecuting Christians in this Muslim dominated country.

Please click here to listen to this interview.  You'll be inspired and challenged to pray.

 

A few weeks ago we started the new year finding out that Gao Zhisheng was located in a prison in China and we let you know that his brother tried to visit him, but was denied access. 

We also shared a letter that Gao's wife had written, which you may read here.

Today we would like to ask you to take a few minutes and write Gao Zhisheng a lettr of encouragement.

We would also like to ask you to email the government officials of China on Gao's behalf also.  Here is a screen capture of what you'll see when you click on the link that says "add your voice" next to the words Government Officials Emailed.

Once this box pops up, all you have to do is follow the links and write your email.  Click either link - Ambassador or the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations.  Remember to be respectful when you write.

Click here to write your letter to Gao today and don't be afraid to share this with others who want to be an active voice for the persecuted church.

To learn more about Gao's past and the torture he has endured, and may still possibly be enduring, click here to visit FREE GAO and sign the petition.

Recently we reported that Gao Zhisheng was found alive in a prison in western China and we invited you to write Gao a letter while he is in prison. If you missed those posts you can read them here and here.

Today China Aid is reporting that Gao's brother has not been allowed entry to visit Gao in prison.

Gao Zhiyi, who had traveled several thousand miles to reach the desolate Shaya Prison, is now waiting in Shaya county for permission to see his brother, who had disappeared into official custody for more than 20 months before the Chinese government announced last month that he was being sent to prison to serve a three-year sentence.

Accompanied by Gao Zhisheng’s father-in-law and two sisters-in-law, Gao Zhiyi arrived at the prison after an arduous overland journey from inland China only to learn that no visits were permitted. Prison authorities told him that Gao was “not willing to see his relatives” and he is also under a three-month observation period. If he is deemed to have been cooperative during that period, he would be allowed visitors.

As you can imagine, this is a heartbreaking experience for the family.  Please remember to pray for Gao and his extended family. Learn more at China Aid.

A few days ago we shared with you the news that Gao had been located in a prison in China.  We are thankful for your prayers and concern for Gao and his family and would like to ask for your prayers for him and his family on a daily basis.  Please read a letter from Gao's wife here, in case you missed it when we posted it earlier.

We would also like to invite you to write a letter to Gao using our new page for him on our Prisoner Alert page.

I would also like to encourage you further to email the government officials of China on Gao's behalf also.  Here is a screen capture of what you'll see when you click on the link that says "add your voice" next to the words Government Officials Emailed.

Once this box pops up, all you have to do is follow the links and write your email.  Click either link - Ambassador or the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations.  Remember to be respectful when you write.

Click here to write your letter to Gao today and don't be afraid to share this with others who want to be an active voice for the persecuted church.

I saw this important post over on the China Aid blog a few days ago, but due to the holidays didn’t have a chance to share it with you until today. As you know, if you’ve read this blog for any length of time, we’ve asked for your prayers for Gao Zhisheng and invited you to sign our petition at http://www.freegao.com. Thank you to all of you who have supported Gao through your prayers and support this past year. As you read the letter that Gao’s wife has written, please pray for her strength as well as for all of Gao’s family.

Going Home

Today should have been Gao Zhisheng’s first day back home

By Geng He

I remember one evening in September 2006, two domestic security protection officers suddenly showed up at my house, asking me, “Where have you hidden Gege?” It was only then that I suddenly realized that it was already past the time when my daughter should have returned home from school. Shocked, I started to cry and said to them, “You are the ones who follow my daughter to school. If anything’s happened to her, I’ll end my life.” Having confirmed that I had no idea where my daughter was, they then said to me, “We know where Gege is. Do you want her home?” I replied, “Of course. Where is she?” They said, “She is at Fan Yafeng’s. We’ll go there now.”

My son Tianyu and I got into their car, and saw them restlessly playing with the cover of their cellphones, opening and closing the cover, opening and closing … . When we got to Anzhen Bridge, where we should have turned right, they said fretfully that they needed to make a phone call first, and then abruptly made a U-turn, going back to the small supermarket near my home (where there is a pay phone). They kept saying to me, “You are your daughter’s guardian. Are you comfortable about a girl being at someone else’s home so late? If Fan Yafeng does not send her back right away, you’ll have to report it to the police and say ‘Fan Yafeng has kidnapped my daughter,’ etc., etc.”

After dialing Fan Yafeng’s cell phone number, they handed the phone to me. When I put the phone to my ear, I heard the ringtone playing the saxophone recording “Going Home”, which instantly made me cry. What a familiar and sweet tune! This “Going Home” saxophone rendition was what used to play as I completed the day’s grocery shopping. In step with this “Going Home” song, the whole family would walk back together to our guesthouse to rest. Accompanied by this “Going Home” song, we would go out to eat together…. Oh, the difference with what I am facing now is like the difference between earth and sky!

Where is my husband Gao Zhisheng? When can he start on the road to come home? The situation then is still fresh in my mind. Now, it’s been more than five years … yet the road home for us is still so far.

Geng He
December 22, 2011

Please read the full post at China Aid and pray for all Christians in China today.

The following is from a China Aid email alert.  Please remember to keep Gao in your prayer.  Visit http://www.freegao.com for all the latest news.

At the annual American Bar Association conference, held in San Francisco on August 6, 17-year-old Ge Ge smiled as she walked to the podium to accept the International Human Rights Lawyer of the Year Award on behalf of her missing father, Gao Zhisheng.

"I am so very proud of my father," she said. "This is the first time that this award [has been] granted to a Chinese person. If my father knew that I accepted this award for him, he would be very happy."

The President of ABA expressed warm regards toward Gao Zhisheng, praising him for his breadth and depth of work for human rights in the Chinese legal system. Ge Ge then shared her admiration for her father and his devotion to his work. "Deep in my heart, my father is the type of person I admire very much. He can get over any difficulties, and he is not afraid of anything.. I feel that my father is an outstanding father."

Though proud of her father's accomplishments, Ge Ge admitted, "I have been really worrying about my dad's situation." Ge Ge and her family continue to dread the reality that Gao continues to be held hostage by the Chinese government and may never return home. Read the Interview with Ge Ge and coverage of Gao Zhisheng's ABA award.  (You may also watch a short video clip of the presentation of the award)

...

"Gao's continued forced disappearance is a blatant disregard of the basic human rights of the Chinese people," says Pastor Bob Fu, who visited Gao's family in June. "If there is no regard for even a well-respected, human rights attorney's dignity, what stops the Chinese Government from exploiting the dignity of its citizens? We will not stop until Gao's rights are restored, as a law-abiding citizen of China. We will not rest until Gao Zhisheng is allowed to be reunited unconditionally with his family in the US."

Late  yesterday I received an email from China Aid that has the latest information on our brother Gao who has been under persecution for some time now.  Please keep him and his family in your continued prayers.  Here's the latest from China Aid...

 Supporters around the world were shocked on March 27, 2010, when Gao Zhisheng spoke with his family for the first time since he was abducted on February 4 last year. Media buzzed with news of his reappearance, as Gao Zhisheng connected with friends, family, reporters and colleagues. But even this brief reprieve from silence was not free.

"Gao was being held under tight security during the time he spoke with his family," says President of ChinaAid Bob Fu. "When I spoke with him on the phone in March, he was being closely monitored, not at liberty to give details about his location or condition."

On April 15 and 16, Gao Zhisheng visited his in-laws in Xinjiang, telling them he would be flying home to Beijing at 10 AM on April 20. Gao never arrived home at his apartment, and has not been seen or heard from in more than 8 weeks. See the media reports on Gao Zhisheng's forced "Re-Disappearance."

Now that he has disappeared again, it is clear that Gao's life is in danger as long as he is in the custody of the Chinese government. During this complex and difficult time, efforts are already in progress to push for Gao's release from China and for a safe reunion with his family in the United States.

"We continue to denounce the Chinese Government's brutal and unjust treatment of Gao Zhisheng!" says Bob Fu. "We will not rest until Gao is released and allowed to reunite with his wife and children in peace."

Please urge more of your friends to Sign the Petition and let the Chinese Government know that Gao Zhisheng is not forgotten. We must show them that the world will not allow this defender of truth and justice to fade from our hearts and minds. We will not rest until he is united with his family.