Welcome to this special episode of China Compass, the fourth in a weekly series which I am calling “The Prison Pulpit”. I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Between now and the end of the year I am working through some of the writings of imprisoned Chinese pastor, Wang Yi, of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, which were published just before and after his arrest in December of 2018.

You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where (among other things) I share a new prefecture and/or city to pray for daily. Visit PrayforChina.us to learn more. If you want to see the missionary books I’ve published and learn more about our work, you can find links to everything @ PrayGiveGo.us!

One book that might be helpful is my little memoir, Unbeaten, which details my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. At the end of the book, I included an appendix entitled Remember My Chains, which is basically the manuscript (notes) from a message I have given dozens of times around the country dealing with this very topic: remembering and praying for the persecuted church, especially in China. You can get the book, Unbeaten, including the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip

Today's excerpt from Pastor Wang Yi...

God Raises Up (and Deposes) Kings 

On the basis of the teachings of the Bible and the mission of the gospel, I respect the authorities God has established in China. For God deposes kings and raises up kings. This is why I submit to the historical and institutional arrangements of God in China.

As a pastor of a Christian church, I have my own understanding and views, based on the Bible, about what righteous order and good government is. At the same time, I am filled with anger and disgust at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime, at the wickedness of their depriving people of the freedoms of religion and of conscience. 

Don't forget to pray for our team (currently on the run) in China!