My Thoughts on the Beijing Olympics, and Darfur

I love the Olympics. Nanci and I were jumping and screaming yesterday when our American guys came from behind to win the 4 x 100 freestyle relay. An amazing race. Wow!

Sadly, last week China revoked the visa for Joey Cheek, Olympic gold-medalist and co-founder of Team Darfur, a coalition of 400 athletes from around the world speaking out about the atrocities in Darfur, Sudan.

An Olympic Sized Question: Do Christians in China Still Suffer Persecution?

The protests of China as host of the Olympics come from a wide variety of people from many countries, on a variety of issues, ranging from Tibet to supplying arms to the corrupt government of Sudan in its genocidal war on Darfur (see previous post), to religious liberty.

Shut Up and Compete: Putting a Gag on Olympic Athletes

I'll never forget hearing nearly seven years ago that China had been selected as the host country for the 2008 Olympics. Now the time has come.

Some Positive Change in China?

Since writing my novel Safely Home, which is set in China and involves religious persecution, I’ve received innumerable confirmations of the persecution of Chinese Christians. Those who live in China now and know the country from the inside know that persecution, in some places, is very severe, while in other places it is mild or almost nonexistent. At the same time, I've heard many sincere but naïve comments from American evangelicals who say, “There’s no longer any persecution of Christians in China.”

I addressed this issue in the foreword to Safely Home I added a couple ...

Chinese Persecution: Still a Tragic Reality

For the ten years since I wrote Safely Home, I’ve been regularly asked, “Isn’t persecution of Chinese Christians a thing of the past?” Yes, there are some good developments, including more Christian books being printed in China. I’m grateful for that. But despite the improvements in some areas, where persecution isn’t as bad as it once was, there are still many Chinese Christians who are persecuted.

The Persecuted Church: Ignored by the World, Watched by the Eyes of Heaven

This Sunday, November 13, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide. It’s a day to remember and pray for the hundreds of men, women, and children killed for Christ each day.

April 15: a Day of Fasting and Prayer for North Korea

Believers around the world are setting aside this Sunday, April 15, as a day of prayer and fasting for the country of North Korea and the believers who live there. The situation in North Korea is increasingly problematic with the country facing its worst food shortage in a decade.

Save Saeed

Some of you have followed the story of the Iranian pastor Saeed Abedini. Saeed was in Iran helping with an orphanage when he was arrested for sharing his faith in Christ. His wife is still struggling with how much she should tell the children about what their father is going through.

[Three] Book Giveaway of the Month: Safely Home

The Safely Home giveaway is now closed! Please check back March 7 for next month's giveaway.

Note from Randy: Stephanie Hallman, who works with our ministry, put together the following and will be in charge of the monthly book giveaway. My only suggestion was to change from a one book giveaway to three, since I love to give away books. (It’s easy for me since I‘m not the one who ships them, I just sign them!). So, here’s Steph:

We’re excited to announce that beginning this month of February, Randy’s blog will feature a ...

Remember Those Imprisoned for Christ in Iran

Please pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Iran who are imprisoned for their faith. A few years ago a man named Farshid, featured along with many others in the two-and-a-half minute video below, visited our EPM office.