President's Corner Dear praying partners, Imagine as a mother, security agents breaking into your home one night, handcuffing your husband, searching your rented apartment as your children cry. For two years, your husband is missing without charges, your children are barred from schools because of his unnamed crime, and agents force you to move every few months. Your husband is innocent, and yet he has been subjected to tremendous torture. What would you do? How would you cope? This is not a hypothetical thriller. It has been reality for Qiaoling “Lydia” Wang since July 10, 2015. Lydia graduated from China’s top law school and married her husband, attorney Li Heping. She dreamed of a peaceful life as a stay-at-home mom, and after passing the bar exam, wanted to be a lawyer. Her husband defending human rights ruined her dream. She wondered why they couldn’t live normal, peaceful Christian lives. She admitted being resentful, but her husband told her that he must defend the law and the oppressed. On July 10, 2015, her life changed forever. Her husband was arrested with 250 others in China’s “War on Law.” In my recent Op-Ed for the Wall Street Journal, I quoted Li, who said his imprisonment was “truly ‘nine deaths, one life,’” referencing an idiom for barely escaping death. He said, “There were times that I wanted to commit suicide. I survived because of my Christian faith, the courageous advocacy of my wife, and the attention of the international community.” Lydia’s efforts freed her husband and transformed her life. A resentful housewife became a fearless voice for freedom. She emerged a bold Christian leader and counselor. When I asked, she smiled and said, “Only after experiencing the past two years could I finally realize the true meaning of Christ’s teachings on love, forgiveness, and not caring for yourself alone. In the past, they were just knowledge in my head.” Yes, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Let’s open ourselves for the love of God to transform us even in the midst of suffering. Your co-worker for the persecuted faithful,
Bob Fu riends of the persecuted,
Wow! 2017 marks 15 years of China Aid’s work! We had a marvelous celebration at the Library of Congress co-sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith, a dedicated voice for human rights globally in the current US House of Representatives. Friends and supporters in D.C. attended the event, including Senator Marco Rubio, Congressmen Mike Conaway, James McGovern, Alex Mooney, Trent Franks, Randy Hultgren, Frank Wolf (retired), and Beau Boulter (retired), as well as representatives from the State Department, CECC, USCIRF, and a number of NGOs.
If not for God’s grace, I’d never have imagined China Aid. Exactly 20 years ago, after being stuck in Hong Kong for over 8 months, my wife Heidi and I flew with our 2-month-old Daniel to this land of freedom, just 3 days before Hong Kong was turned over to the Communist regime.
I dreamed of becoming a “missionary theologian” as my mentor Dr. Jonathan Chao called it. Studying Greek and Hebrew as my new life unfolded at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, I was determined to start a graduate level of reformed seminary.
As time went on, though, Heidi and I heard the voices every day from the persecuted faithful, and we could not sit still and ignore the tears of the oppressed. For 15 years, we’ve been proud to walk with “the least of our brothers and sisters in China.” Whenever possible, we have supplied water, food, and clothes and visited them in prison, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 25. We have provided legal aid to hundreds and conducted trainings on rule of law and biblical worldview for hundreds of thousands.
At the 15th anniversary event, we were reminded by our guests from China that persecution has worsened recently. In 2016 alone, nearly 50,000 Christians were persecuted, 3,500 were detained, and among those, 303 received criminal sentences. With the regime’s rising economic status and most western countries’ appeasement policies, everyone sees a chilling storm against Christian churches coming in 2017. More than ever we need your fervent prayers and financial partnership in this major battle ahead. We know who has ultimately won this battle.
Your thankful co-worker,
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