Faith
Trump Admin Demands China Release Pastor
Faith Facts
- The Trump administration called for the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, a detained underground church leader in China.
- Nearly 30 other Zion Church leaders and members have also been arrested or reported missing as China intensifies crackdowns on house churches.
- Church advocates warn this is the most significant persecution wave against Chinese Christians in over 40 years.
Standing for religious liberty, the State Department urged China to free Pastor Jin and respect the right to worship without state interference. The crackdown on Zion Church reflects the ongoing repression Christians face for refusing to submit their faith to authoritarian control.
Jin, founder of Zion Church and a former Tiananmen Square democracy activist, has faithfully led his congregation despite pressure and persecution, seeking to honor Christ above earthly powers. The church built a thriving online community even after being forced to close its physical sanctuary, uniting thousands of believers across the nation.
“This crackdown further demonstrates how the CCP exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference in their faith and choose to worship at unregistered house churches.”
China’s constitution claims to guarantee religious freedom, but the state only recognizes approved religious organizations, targeting independent believers with surveillance, arrests, and pressure to conform.
Families like the Jins endure separation and hardship, as authorities attempt to break the spirit of those who remain steadfast in the faith.
Luke Alliance and ChinaAid are sounding the alarm that persecution is escalating, imploring people of faith worldwide to pray for China’s Christians and to stand boldly for freedom, family, and Biblical truth. Our brothers and sisters deserve the right to worship God without fear.
Be a voice for the persecuted church and pray for their deliverance. Christian courage and American resolve must unite to uphold liberty wherever it is threatened.
Faith Points:
- Gaines served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2016 to 2018 and helped revise the Baptist Faith and Message.
- Under his leadership at Bellevue Baptist Church, the “Bellevue Loves Memphis” initiative mobilized thousands for community service.
- He earned a doctorate in preaching and authored books on the power of prayer and the need for spiritual revival.
Dr. Steve Gaines, a revered former President of the Southern Baptist Convention, entered his eternal rest on Friday at the age of 68.
After a courageous two-year battle with cancer, the longtime Bellevue Baptist Church pastor is now in the presence of his Savior.
Gaines dedicated over four decades to pastoral ministry, leaving an indelible mark on the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.
His legacy is defined by a deep commitment to the Great Commission and the defense of biblical doctrine.
Dr. Richard Land described Gaines as a man possessed of a pastor’s heart and evangelistic zeal who provided decades of service to the Lord’s Kingdom.
“We will miss him greatly and are comforted only by the fact that he’s in a far, far better place now, in the arms of his Savior.”
The Gaines family, including his wife Donna and their four children, continues to covet the prayers of the faithful during this time of transition.
We honor his lifelong dedication to the Gospel and his unwavering stand for the Truth of God’s Word.
Faith Facts
- Iran uses the charge of ‘moharebeh,’ translated as waging war against God, to justify capital punishment for political dissent.
- Human rights monitors report that at least 1,500 people were hanged by the Iranian government last year alone.
- Biblical principles teach that justice requires a fair trial and protection of the innocent from state-sanctioned violence.
The Iranian regime has executed champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi and two other young men under the charge of waging war against God.
These executions stem from recent nationwide protests where citizens expressed grievances over economic failure and government oppression.
Reports from human rights organizations indicate these men were denied fair trials and forced into confessions through torture.
This highlights the brutal reality for those seeking freedom under a regime that suppresses basic human dignity and due process.
As believers, we must stand in prayer for those suffering under tyranny and advocate for the protection of life and religious liberty worldwide.
May we remain vigilant in supporting the cause of freedom against oppressive regimes that mock the sanctity of justice.
Faith Facts:
- Bethlehem Church baptized 400 people across its three Georgia campuses during one weekend.
- Leaders linked the event to Acts 2 and the Day of Pentecost, sparked by a prompting from the Holy Spirit.
- The church is now disciplesing new believers through four-week groups to deepen daily walk with Christ.
A miraculous wave of revival swept through Bethlehem Church in Georgia as 400 individuals publicly declared their faith through baptism over a single weekend.
This powerful move of God occurred across three campuses, demonstrating the hunger for spiritual renewal in our nation.
Lead Pastor Jason Britt felt a sudden prompting from the Holy Spirit to call for spontaneous baptisms while teaching a series on Acts 2 and the Day of Pentecost.
The church, which averages 7,000 weekly attendees, saw years of prayer and discipleship culminate in this historic moment of obedience.
“I felt prompted, and I read it with fresh eyes. It says, ‘Repent and be baptized,’ and I felt like the Holy Spirit pressed that on me,” Britt said.
“A Spirit-filled church is full of Spirit-sensitive people, and Spirit-sensitive people obey.”
The church is now prioritizing the Great Commission by enrolling new believers into four-week discipleship groups to strengthen their walk with Christ.
Leaders emphasized that their heart is to walk alongside these individuals as they develop daily spiritual disciplines and intimacy with Jesus.
Witnessing hundreds of souls surrender to Christ reminds us that the harvest is truly plentiful when we remain sensitive to the Spirit’s calling.
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