Lights of Christmas
All week I've been wanting to let you know about a wonderful way to support suffering pastors in China. In fact, there is a wonderful program called Lights of Christmas that I hope and pray you get involved in.
What is Lights of Christmas? Glad you asked...
The Lights of Christmas Story
A COLD, DARK PRISON CELL IN THE NORTHERN INTERIOR OF CHINA. The cell is only 20' by 20' and occupied by 40 prisoners. One of these prisoners is a Chinese underground church pastor in his mid-40s, sentenced to a three-year prison term for preaching the Gospel of Christ. At 5:30 a.m., after being allowed four hours of sleep, a swift blow awakens him to his back from the boot of a communist prison guard. Pastor Stephen is allowed to have one of the two bowls of soup that will be his food for the day including the one small steamed roll he is given each day, he will consume perhaps 500 calories. Read the full story!
You will never look at your Christmas lights the same way again. Plus there are other ways you can get involved and get your church involved...
How many church services or small groups have you participated in where the message is about reaching out to the suffering Church in China? The victory that our brothers and sisters find in the midst of persecution is a message in and of itself! Please encourage your congregation, youth group or small group to share the story of the suffering, yet victorious Church.
What can we learn from the suffering Church? Scripture. Scripture is embedded in the prayers and testimonies of persecuted Christians. They memorize verse after verse, book after book. Sacrifice. Why does standing for Christ include sacrifice? What's the difference between what they sacrifice versus what we sacrifice to stand for Christ? Success. What is a successful church? Perhaps these questions will prompt you to share the Lights of Christmas initiative with your congregation, youth group or small group.
To participate in the Lights of Christmas, please download any or all of the above files, or refer to the Underground Church page to download handouts to share, or email us at [email protected].
Please also take the time to listen to this beautiful song Michael Card wrote for Lights of Christmas.