Midland Group Reports Chinese Christians Taken Into Custody, Others Released

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Midland Group Reports Chinese Christians Taken Into Custody, Others Released

Released by ChinaAid, September, 2010 ...

"HENAN, CHINA – On the morning of September 20, 2010, during the trial of house church Christians Liu Yunhua and Gao Jianli in Xuchang, Henan province, Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan and his wife were detained as they attempted to enter the courtroom. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers not only detained Bike and his wife, but they also took hold of other Christians present, namely Liu Fulan, Hua Cuiying, Ma Keai, Li Yuxia, and Liu Sen."
Read the Rest of the Report from ChinaAid

Rolling Mission

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

"Our mission is to transform lives through the gift of mobility to

the physically disabled poor in developing countries

as motivated by Jesus Christ.
Our vision is to provide 20 million wheelchairs."

Want to take one for a test drive? During normal business hours, visit the lobby at the Texas Street entrance of First Presbyterian Church-Midland, at the northwest corner of Texas and A streets, on the west side of downtown Midland. For $51.29, you can give the gift of mobility. You can donate by mailing FWC, calling them, or visiting their website.

Free Wheelchair Mission
9341 Irvine Boulevard
Irvine, CA 92618

(800) 733-0858

www.freewheelchairmission.org/

Midland Group Reports Chinese Christian Church Raided; Detainee Seriously Ill

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Midland Group Reports Chinese Christian Church Raided; Detainee Seriously Ill

Released by ChinaAid, September, 2010 ...

"HENAN, CHINA – On September 22, 2010, at 4 p.m. local time, a Bible study and training session at Chen Pengyi Church in Wancheng District, Nanyang City, Henan province was raided by local police. An American pastor, a Russian pastor and over 30 attendees, including local co-workers Zhang Tianling, Ma Hanzhong, Yan Baozhong, Kang Jinqun and Ma Wenzhi were detained. Zhang Tianling’s car was also confiscated."
Read the Rest of the Report from ChinaAid

In the News ... "Hospice of Midland's Labyrinth meant to offer place for reflection, peace"

Hospice of Midland's Labyrinth meant to offer place for reflection, peace
By Kathleen Thurber
Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The labyrinth that was constructed on Hospice's Andrews Highway property is meant to offer Midlanders a place of peace and meditation, said the Rev. Jan Reed, director of Spiritual Care and Bereavement at Hospice of Midland.

Although there aren't many in West Texas, Reed said, the paths have been used for more than 4,000 years and at one time or another have been common in nearly every religious tradition.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Sparkling Mission

Annie Dieselberg heads the staff at NightLight, a ministry in urban Bangkok, Thailand, that reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of the Nana-Sukhumvit district. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness, and to combat the sexual exploitation of women and children, both Thai and foreign.

Right now, Annie tells us, the greatest need at NightLight is to sell more jewelry. NightLight Design Co., Ltd. is a registered jewellery business which employs women coming out of prostitution or having been at risk of prostitution and/or trafficking.

If you are interested in hosting a jewelry party please write to Charity at NightLight, at charity@nightlightusa.org, and she will assist you in setting that up.

Remember the beautiful jewelry is also available on-line at http://www.nightlightbangkok.com/

"God is going before us to the bars preparing the way. He is sending us to receive the women and give hope," Annie writes. "We ask you to join us in this adventure. Thank you to those of you who already do. You are saving lives!"

Faces of Children: Prayer Requests

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Prayer Concerns for the week of 10/14/10

Thailand/Burma (Myanmar)
• Please continue to keep the children and people of Burma held close in prayer as they deal with great loss following attacks by the Burma Army. Give thanks to God for the work of Partners Relief and Development in providing emergency food, medicine, and supplies to the more than 1,000 people recently forced from their homes by the Burma Army. A Partners relief team walked four days through the jungle, hand carrying all of the relief supplies for these displaced people.
• Pray for the leaders, relief teams, and volunteers with Partners Relief and Development as they serve the children and people of Burma and those in the refugee camps along the border of Thailand.
Website for Partners Relief & Development

Uganda
• Give thanks to God for the work of the staff and volunteers of KAMCARE, Kamuli HIV/AIDS Prevention and Family Care Project, in Uganda. Pray that God will provide the resources needed for this ministry to continue to care for 780 children who have been orphaned because of HIV/AIDS.
• Thanks be to God that KAMCARE is able to provide educational and material support for these children as well as school fees, uniforms, food, medical care, shelter, psychosocial support, and protection.
• Pray for children forced into the role of caregiver for other siblings because of the death of their parents. Some of the children who receive help from KAMCARE live in homes that are child headed-an older child is the caretaker for the others.
• Please pray that the staff and volunteers of KAMCARE will reach more and more people in the community who will commit to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic and serve those affected by it.
Website for KAMCARE

United States
• Pray that God will comfort and sustain 6-year-old Marley and 13-year-old Quentin during a very difficult time in their young lives. Pray for their 30-year-old father Shawn who is awaiting a heart transplant and has been in and out of ICU recently. Shawn's brother, who had the same type of heart defect, died when he was a teenager following his heart transplant. Pray for God's healing presence and peace to be with Shawn, his wife and their children, his siblings, parents, extended family, and friends.
• Please continue to keep 2-year-old Steven * and 4-year-old Mariah * held close in prayer as they endure yet another wrenching transition. These foster children were removed from their biological mother's home last spring and have since been in several foster homes. Recently, the judge ordered them returned to the care of their maternal grandmother and great-grandmother, a decision that went against the recommendations of the social workers on the case.
• Pray that God will comfort these little ones as they adjust to another place. Pray for their safety and protection. Pray for God's healing presence in this difficult situation.
• Pray that the foster family will experience Christ's peace that surpasses all understanding as they grieve the departure of Steven and Mariah.
• Please pray for the social workers on this case ... that God will sustain them through painful situations and difficult decisions.
• Keep in prayer the organizers and volunteers preparing for the upcoming Civility, Community, and Compassion event to be held October 23 in Midland, Texas. Pray this public forum will help members of the community engage in constructive dialog about issues surrounding women, children, and other cultures.
• Continue to pray for 2-year-old Lane who has been having seizures. Thank God that Lane seems to be doing well. Pray his doctors will be able to accurately diagnose and treat Lane. Pray this little boy's family will be comforted during this uncertain time.
*Name changed for confidentiality and/or protection

Faces of Children
• Give thanks to God for the opportunity to share the ministry of Faces of Children with the women of John Calvin Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas last week. And thanks be to God for the many new prayer partners from John Calvin who committed to pray for children through Faces of Children.
• Please continue to pray that more churches and individuals will join with the ministry of Faces of Children in spreading awareness about children in crisis and inviting more people to pray for children at risk.

In the News ... "Chonda Pierce brings the laughs"

Uniting the men of the church
Lyxan Toldanes
Staff Writer
Odessa American

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Whoever said the church was just a place of solemnity and reverence has never met Chonda Pierce. The “queen of clean comedy” has brought the laughs to churches nationwide and is coming to Midland’s Stonegate Fellowship Church.

With a distinct southern twang and a hint of sarcasm, Pierce never holds back — even in a house of worship.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story.

In the News ... Fields of Faith is TONIGHT

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Providing a comforting environment of peers to other teens is what Fellowship of Christian Athlete groups nationwide hope to do Wednesday when they host Fields of Faith events in more than 38 states. In Midland, the event will start at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 13, at Grande Communications Stadium.

Fields of Faith Promo 2010 from FCA on Vimeo.

Invitation to Prayer

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

"Ladders to God"

"Prayer reweaves the rent fabric of the universe. It releases us, in time, from the snares of lower energies. Total dependence on God makes us independent of the darkness of the world. No problem is too big or small, no question too important or unimportant to place in God's hands. We don't ask God for too much; in fact, we ask for too little. Turn to God for everything. Give everything to God. The mistake many people make is that although they believe in God, they do not intimately include God in their lives."
Illuminata: A Return to Prayer by Marianne Williamson

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

Greetings, Faces of Children Prayer Partner,

You show through your steadfast prayers for children that God is very much an intimate part of your life. Thank you for praying for children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, and even for those who harm them. Thank you for trusting God with these concerns and celebrations ... for placing them into God's capable hands.

This coming Wednesday, October 13, 2010 we will meet to lift children-at-risk in prayer at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church, Midland to throw ourselves into the work of praying for the children of our world. I hope you will be able to join us for this time of prayer and afterwards for lunch ($5) and fellowship.

If you have prayer concerns or celebrations about children at risk, those who care for them, have authority over them, or, yes, even those who harm them, please send them to me at at claufer@facesofchildren.net, or give me a call. Thank you for praying for the children of our global and local communities!

The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with you,
Chris

In the News ... "Fields of Faith gives students opportunity to encourage peers in faith walk"

Fields of Faith gives students opportunity to encourage peers in faith walk
By Kathleen Thurber
Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Providing a comforting environment of peers to other teens is what Fellowship of Christian Athlete groups nationwide hope to do Wednesday when they host Fields of Faith events in more than 38 states. In Midland, the event will start at 7:30 p.m. at Grande Communications Stadium.

"We're having teenagers come up and challenge their sphere of influence," said Eric Boyt, who helped organize the rally along with a team of teens and other adult volunteers.

Although there aren't many in West Texas, Reed said, the paths have been used for more than 4,000 years and at one time or another have been common in nearly every religious tradition.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Fields of Faith Promo 2010 from FCA on Vimeo.

Midland Group Reports Pastor Detained at Chinese Christians' Trial

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Midland Group Reports Pastor Detained at Chinese Christians' Trial

Released by ChinaAid, September, 2010 ...

"HENAN, CHINA – during the trial of house church Christians Liu Yunhua and Gao Jianli, Pastor “Bike” (Zhang Mingxuan) and his wife, who had come to see the trial, were detained by the Public Security Bureau (PSB)."

"The passionate evangelist, known for riding his bike across the country on missions of encouragement, has been detained, arrested, and interrogated countless times over the past 10 years in his efforts to strengthen house church Christians. He is the Chairman of the China House Church Alliance."
Read the Rest of the Report from ChinaAid

Midland Group Offers "Prayer Band That Started a Revolution"

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Issued by ChinaAid ...

"This prayer band has been declared illegal in China."

"Chinese police have stopped people on the streets and taken the bands off their wrists. Some have been interrogated and arrested; at least three families were evicted from their homes—for the government, the prayer band is a symbol of revolution."

"We thank everyone across the U.S. and around the world who answered the call to wear a 'Pray for China' prayer band and pray during the Olympics. Your willingness to stand with Chinese house church Christians encouraged them as they also wore prayer bands and prayed for their country. Their commitment came with a cost. Read more."

"Yet, house church Christians refuse to be intimidated. They say that prayer for China is even more critical now that the world is no longer watching. Persecution has increased. Will you join in this revolution of prayer for China?"

"They can arrest me or put me in prison, but I'm not going to stop praying for China. Although the prayer band is banned in China, prayer can never be banned. I am asking every Christian to support believers in China by wearing a prayer band." - a prominent house church leader

"At this crucial time, will you partner in prayer? And, will you please forward this information to others who will want to pray for the persecuted in China."

» Click here to order a China Prayer Band

Midland Group Suggests 5 Ways to Help the Persecuted Church in China - #5, SPREAD THE WORD

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Midland Group Suggests 5 Ways to Help the Persecuted Church in China - #5, SPREAD THE WORD

Released by ChinaAid ...

"The international community watched mesmerized as China opened its doors during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Chinese government courted well-known American evangelical leaders, providing them with opportunities for large-scale events and evangelizing in mega-state churches. The illusion created by the Chinese government was successful. As a result, many around the world believe that Chinese citizens have complete religious freedom."

"It is critical to expose the truth that Christians in China are persecuted for their faith. In the shadows of the stadiums, house church Christians were threatened, beaten on the streets, placed under house arrest or 24-hour surveillance, evicted from their homes, kidnapped and locked in prisons."

"The following are a few ways you can help spread the word and encourage your family, friends, small group and church to pray for the persecuted in China:
• Forward ChinaAid E-mail Updates and encourage others to pray and speak out
• Print out ChinaAid Newsbriefs to share
• Invite a ChinaAid Representative to speak to your church, mission conference or organization
• Contact your local Christian radio station and request they invite ChinaAid to speak
• Post a link to www.ChinaAid.org or a ChinaAid article on your blog or website. (ChinaAid stories and photos may be reproduced on your website as long as ChinaAid.org is credited and materials are not used for fundraising purposes.)"

Word from Thailand: "Acacia's 9th Birthday"

Brett and Shelly Faucett are mission co-workers living in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where we had a chance to meet with them during our mission to that country in 2008. They are HIV/AIDS regional consultants. Brett is a nurse and amateur photographer. Shelly, a former literacy specialist and ESL teacher. They have their two daughters, Acacia and Annapurna, with them.

"Acacia's 9th Birthday"

"Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday I was changing Acacia's diaper and now she is already 9," Shelly writes in this post at their Welcome to the Jungle blog. "That means I must be getting older too, but that can't be right, could it?"