CHINA GAMES WINDOW INTO SECRET WORLD

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

You may have heard--in just a few days a special "Joshua and Caleb" mission team will leave for China where they will discretely monitor human rights abuses in view of the coming Olympic Games in Beijing. They'll also strengthen the hands and hearts of those who risk their lives and freedom to rescue tiny babies who survive forced abortions. You may be among those who are helping in this effort through your prayers and generous financial support. If so, thank you!

Some have asked why Faith and Action--a ministry to OUR nation--is undertaking this kind of international effort. The answers are simple:

Remember what Jesus said about our two top priorities. They're found in the Gospel of St. Mark, chapter 12, 

"Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?"Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

This couldn't be clearer. Loving God is our first priority; Loving our neighbor is the second. 

Communications technology and jet travel have shrunk the world so that China is as close by plane to me as my parents' home is by car. This makes the Chinese our neighbors, in the literal sense. It also makes Chinese Christians even more intimate neighbors because they are our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

So, the first reason Faith and Action is cooperating in this mission to China is simply because we have the liberty to do it. Proverbs 3:27 says," Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. "There are some things you don't need to pray about. Helping those who need help is one of them. 

The second reason is because Jesus said caring for our neighbor  is "like" the worship of God. In other words, it is the earthly equivalent.  The next best thing to worship is taking care of those in distress. This theme is repeated over and over again in Scripture. There is no question our fellow Christians in China are in deep distress, need our help and that it is God's will we help them.

Third, it is the duty of a free country to help others to find freedom. It's redemptive for the American people to generously help the people of China. Proverbs 22:9 says, "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."

Fourth, and finally, the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing afford a rare window of opportunity to insert monitors into China during a time when it is relatively safe to do so. The eyes of the world will be on China for the next several weeks, all but assuring the Chinese authorities will be hesitant to come down too hard on Westerners or their own people should anyone "stray" from their government-approved itineraries.

I think I've made my case. The United States is not only the global leader when it comes to religious freedom and fundamental human rights, but we actually have laws requiring us to aid citizens of other countries to obtain the same freedoms. (The "International Religious Freedom Act" is just one.) For these reasons (and others I can't yet tell you about) we are sending help to China. 

"Joshua" and "Caleb" will soon be on the ground. I'll post their reports. Until then, please pray for them, for our Chinese brothers and sisters and for an end to religious persecution and the violation of human rights in this otherwise great land.

Your grateful missionary to our nation's leaders,

Rob Schenck

www.faithandaction.org

Faith and Action

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329