MINISTRY//How are you?

“How are you now?”

15 Days of Prayer

316NOW’s 15 Days of Prayer effort begins on January 25 and runs through February 8. Tap here for prayer suggestions for each of those 15 days.

One of our administrators asked that question of a Chinese Christian friend of 316NOW. She and a half a dozen members of her unregistered church have been attending our Bible institute for several years. But government officials in their city no longer permit members of her church to gather together in person. 316NOW has tried to arrange for a pastor (another student of ours) to meet with them online.

I am disheartened

“It is difficult to gather people for worship,” she replied. “We have not been coming together for prayer. I am disheartened.”

“Almost everything we do, we do online. But that creates a problem. Everyone prefers face-to-face meetings. They don’t like to meet online. And, sometimes, when we meet online, they can’t hear it.

“Those who attend online are growing spiritually. But with only a couple of people attending, Brother Chang [the online pastor] is always willing to teach us, even if it’s only two people. I don’t think it’s worth his time.”  

316NOW’s commitment

Of course, 316NOW will continue to provide all the spiritual guidance we are able to offer. We are sad that this sister’s group has seen a decline over the last months. We can understand her disheartenment.

But we will stand beside her and her unregistered church. We will pray for them – and others in a similar situation. And we will point them to the grace-founded promise that, no matter how a situation may seem to us, our God is greater.

What you can do: Add your prayers to ours for this small group of believers. Ask that they find encouragement, hope, and joy in knowing God is their father because Jesus is their Savior.