Persecution -- How would Americans respond if this were to arrive on our shores?
I am not going to apologize for the contents of this forwarded message. We as believers in the Body of Christ need to realize that these things are going on and now have to get on our knees and interceed for those in need.
God bless,
Chuck
Sat, 15 Aug 1998 17:25:46 -0700
This letter came (encrypted) from a missionary stationed in Indonesia to a church in Dallas which supports them. Let's join them in prayer for this situation and pass this along to those who will pray.
June 18, 1998
Greetings from Indonesia,
We thank God because of your faith and love in the Lord Jesus Christ. As we read
FBCD Sunday bulletins our hearts rejoice with you - the victories and also
challenges. We pray the Good Lord prospers the Church beyond human
limitations.
Indonesia is facing an unprecedented critical and dangerous turn at this very
moment. As you probably watch in the World News or CNN. A revolution is
going on. The sudden economic collapse. The political turbulence unending. And
the riots with killings, lootings, and rapings are stalking the minority groups here
(Christians and Chinese).
Millions lost their jobs. Inflation is speeding like a bullet. More than half of our 220
million people are living under the poverty line. Extremists are doing the best they
can to politicize the situation. Hence the atmosphere is just like a time bomb nearing
the explosion point. Hundreds of churches have been destroyed. Tens of thousands
of mainly Chinese businesses have been looted, burned, and destroyed.
The saddest thing that happened during the May 13 and 14 destructions is the
raping of Chinese women (mostly Christians). For example, a ten year old girl was
raped from behind and front - in public. Her mom took her to the hospital. And the
daughter died in her arms. A teenage girl was raped - in public. She, then, cut her
wrist, wrote her mom a note that she was ashamed to live. Then committed suicide.
Scores of mothers committed suicide after learning their daughters were raped.
One lady shared with an Australian radio: she saw a Chinese girl was burned alive
in her car. At the same time two were raped in public and then thrown into the fire.
Another case: The mob entered a 26 story apartment in Jakarta. Looting and
destroying from the first to the 26th floor. Upon exiting, they undressed, sexually
assaulted and raped women they met.
The jealousy, envy, and hatred are unbridled and unchecked by law. The mob is
not satisfied by looting and smashing properties, they burn and destroy; they are
not content hurting people physically, they have torn open our chests and trampled
our hearts by raping, even our kids. People stop asking God "Why?", and started
to ask "How long?" As far as our context is concerned, it will be terribly long and
no sign of stopping unless by God's miraculous intervention or Christ should come
back.
Some Christians today are meeting not only to pray and to study the Word, but
also to prepare should the worst (which is yet to come) befall. Last year, during the
riots and destruction of churches and stores we were scared and sometimes hid
ourselves. Now most are preparing to withstand the powers of evil. We cry for our
wives and daughters. They (I dare not mention their religion) even raped a six year
old girl. IN PUBLIC. Hell has broken loose upon God's people in Indonesia at this
time. Countless are suffering physically. All are violated and hurt emotionally and
psychologically.
My wife, Caroline meets with some ladies regularly. And some are asking the Lord
to come back right now. Some, even asked my wife to go to the States for safety.
We have no refuge but the Lord Himself. We are afraid to go to public places.
Even we are fearful when our kids are in schools. Yet people need Jesus, even
more at this fearful moment. And this we are called to do in the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Yet, as I look at my three daughters, Irene (12), Stephanie (8) andRachel (5), I
cannot help but shed some tears in praying for them. The road for them is long,
hard, and dangerous. I mean terribly dangerous for them. Because hatred is being
propagated and destruction (physical and psychological) tolerated and no one is
being punished for fear of the majority's disapproval and revenge. In peaceful times
we rarely think of heaven. Much less about hell. But even the sceptics here are
talking about the reality of hell. In short, our lives, and the lives of our kids are in
literal danger day by day.
Please uphold us in your prayers. Write us if you can. Soon basic necessities of life
will disappear; and even now are skyrocketing. The only thing that is growing faster
is politics and the accumulation of lies upon lies. We are choked full of lies and our
spirits cannot breathe. We can find comfort in the fellowship of true saints. And we
can only keep looking above where our help would come. Please pray for our
safety. And the continuation of our ministries, though we have to rethink our
strategies. But the message remains the same. Because it is the solution to our
problems here and problems elsewhere.
Thank you for caring and sharing.
In Christ Victorious
End forwarded message |
