National Conference: Q&A Panel

Now we have a panel answering questions submitted by conference attendees.

Here are a few examples:

Q: To Michael Wurmbrand: Was it hard to keep your faith seeing how your parents suffered for theirs? A: It is important for parents to show children their commitment to Christ, and the difference of life without Christ.

Q: How can we reach Muslim students? A: One panelist conducts outreaches in major cities in the USA, inviting Iranian-Americans to a Persian meal and a showing of the Jesus film. Many are being saved. Another panelist has invited university students to a post-Ramadan meal, and shares about Christ, answering questions about Islam vs. Christianity.

Q: Many say that persecution grows the church, as if persecution is a good thing. What is your response to that? A's: I have suffered persecution. It does strengthen faith. We don't seek persecution, but we thank God that we are able to persevere and be a witness to those around us. In Iraq, more people have come to Christ since the revolution, than in the last 200 years.

Q: How should we pray for those who are being persecuted? A's. The church in Acts did not pray for protection, but for boldness. We don't pray for more persecution. Persecution does not always result in church growth, but church growth will result in persecution. We pray for their boldness in witness, and also freedom from their oppression in God's time. We pray for God's grace to accept what comes. We fight against principalities and powers in spiritual places. We must recognize the spirit of Islam is at work, and that our battles are spiritual ones. If we don't recognize that we are in a spiritual war, we have no business praying.

Q: Franklin Graham was allowed to conduct a crusade in China, and they are printing many Bibles there. Why should we believe that there is such persecution there? A: Graham was allowed to preach in a government-sanctioned Three-Self church, i.e. "preaching to the choir". The core doctrine of the Three-Self church is to make Christianity compatible with socialism. The bishop of the church has publicly stated that the salvation in by good deeds of "love", and not by grace. As for the Bibles, there is only one printer of Bibles in China, and they are only for sale and distribution once a week in the bookstores of the 16-18 million member Three-Self church. Even the neighborhoods around these churches have no idea that Bibles are available in these churches.