Hong Kong Christians Face Crackdown: January 6, 2023

China's crackdown on Hong Kong has led to a decline in religious freedom.

Hong Kong's Christian community faces increasing repression and arrest.

Thousands of Christians have fled the city, with many more facing restrictions.

Despite the challenges, Hong Kong's churches remain united and committed to sharing the message of hope.

This week on Christian World News, two years after China's crackdown, Christians are being targeted inside Hong Kong. The future of religious freedom hangs in the balance. Plus, medical emergency on national TV. A football player collapses on the field. How it sparked a nationwide call to prayer in some of the most unlikely places. And a year-long journey through the Bible. This celebrity shares her experience with God's word, a daily walk that changed her life. Welcome to Christian World News, everyone. I'm Wendy Griffith. Well, in recent years, China has tightened its grip on Hong Kong. During that time, dozens of human rights and religious freedom activists have been arrested. Tens of thousands have fled the city's authoritarian rule, and those who remain face increasing repression. George Thomas reports from Hong Kong on the escalating crackdown. David is from mainland China. He moved to Hong Kong a decade ago to reach Mandarin-speaking Chinese with the gospel. He had a sense back then that political changes were coming to the city and wanted to be ready. I arrived in Hong Kong 10 years ago and saw a big demand among the Mandarin-speaking community. There were very few churches that were reaching this group with the good news of Christ. We are concealing David's identity because of the sensitive nature of his Christian work. The majority of churches in Hong Kong are in Cantonese, the language widely spoken in the city. Since Mandarin is my mother tongue, I knew it would be more convenient to reach this group in our soul language. A few years after his arrival, he started a small home group made up of people from the mainland. The fellowship grew as he shared the gospel with no restrictions or fear of reprisal from Hong Kong authorities. Then came the 2019 pro-democracy protests, which suddenly altered Hong Kong's political and religious landscape. In 1997, Beijing agreed to govern Hong Kong under the one country, two system principle. And it was supposed to last for 50 years. All that changed when China decided to intervene a lot sooner. In response to the anti-China protests here, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law that gave it new powers to punish critics and silence dissenters. We were promised one country, two systems. Now we are one country, one system. We are not as free as before. Dozens of pro-democracy activists, lawyers and journalists have been arrested since the law took effect. You cannot think about living in Hong Kong anymore. You should think about yourself living in China. Among those arrested, Jimmy Lai, a devout Catholic and defender of human rights and religious freedom. Imprisoned for protesting, Lai could face life behind bars on separate national security charges. Also targeted, Hong Kong's most prominent Catholic leader, Cardinal Joseph Zen, an outspoken critic of China's Communist Party. For us Christians, following Jesus means going through all kinds of trials and difficulties. The security law continues to force many citizens to flee the city. As a result, thousands of teachers have left Hong Kong. Thousands of students have left Hong Kong. In our own church, we have had over 300 members that have left. Jesus is the savior of the world. He is the only legitimate savior. American Butch Tanner pastors one of the few English-speaking congregations here. He says Hong Kong went from an open city to a city of fear the moment China stepped in. So a lot of people who are locals will say, you have an international passport. You can leave anytime. I don't, so I need to leave when I can. Once a regional beacon of freedom and democracy Hong Kong is once again a colonial city with China authoritarian president calling the shots such as declaring Beijing full control over Hong Kong In 2020 China president picked his close ally Xiao Baolong to be Beijing representative here in Hong Kong Xiao is a well-known hotliner who has targeted China's underground Christian community. In fact, a few years ago, he launched a campaign that led to thousands of crosses demolished at churches. While the future of religious freedom hangs in the balance, Pastor David remains optimistic and sees more opportunities to share Christ's love. An unprecedented number of Mandarin-speaking people have moved here from the mainland since Beijing took over. We've never had this many Mandarin-speaking people in the city before. You can hear them walking around on the streets and subways. It's a great time to reach them. pastor tanner says despite political and security uncertainties hong kong churches are united like never before and will continue to share a message of hope there is nothing george that's going to happen that's going to stop the church nothing and it doesn't really matter whether the legal system changes or the education system changes or anything else changes god doesn't change His message doesn't change. His church doesn't change. George Thomas, CBN News, Hong Kong. Thanks, George. One of the oldest Christian cultures in the world, Armenia, is facing a potential human tragedy as tensions rise with the neighboring country of Azerbaijan. Experts worry about what's ahead because of deadly fighting and a blockade that cut off food and important resources. Billy Halliwell has the story. There is no time to wait and to allow the next genocide, because this is genocide. That's how Dr. Bayana Sukhudyan describes the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a small, landlocked region between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For decades, deadly battles between Armenians and Azerbaijanis have raged there, and a recent blockade has reignited those tensions. The last big war in Karabakh happened in 2020, and at that time, Azerbaijan conquered most of the territory all around the enclave. And so there's only one road that connects the 120,000 Christians who live in this enclave to the rest of the world, and it's protected by a Russian peacekeeping force. On December 12th, Azerbaijani protesters reportedly blocked that road known as the Lachin Corridor, preventing food, medicine and other basic transport in or out of Nagorno-Karabakh. I'm a pediatric neurologist. Together with my colleague, we saw many children with epilepsy who have to take anti-seizure drug to get free of seizures. but now there is shortage of these drugs. And not only these drugs are not available, but also some painkillers and antibiotics as well as hormonal therapy, which is very important in acute situations. In addition with that, there is shortage of baby formulas. The blockade sparked immediate condemnation with critics across the world calling on Azerbaijan to halt the obstruction. Ruben Vardanyan, Minister of State for Nagorno-Karabakh, believes the region's most recent battles stem, in part, from a clash of worldviews. One conflict is a democratic country against a non-democratic, autocratic country, because in Azerbaijan, everybody knows we don't have a democratic system, and we all know that we are citizens, Azeris, they don't have a right to, really, human rights. With both Armenia and Azerbaijan laying claim to this land, the dynamic is complex. Armenia gained control in the early 1900s, and then a 2020 Russian-brokered ceasefire handed Azerbaijan newfound control. Joel Veldkamp is among those who worry the worst is yet to come for Armenia, one of Christianity's oldest communities. I think this is probably the prelude to an Azerbaijani armed attack on Nagorno And if that happens and Russia does not step in Armenia is probably not strong enough to stop them from conquering the whole region There will be massacres and at the end of it this land, which is the ancient homeland of the Armenian people, this is where the alphabet was designed as some of the oldest churches in the world, will be completely destroyed. This is Billy Halliwell for CBN News. Thanks, Billy. We're definitely keeping Armenia in our prayers. Well, in Rome this week, the Catholic faithful celebrated the life and service of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Tens of thousands of people came to Vatican City for the funeral mass. Pope Francis presided over the funeral of his predecessor. Benedict became the first pope in 600 years to resign his office when he stepped down 10 years ago, citing health reasons. The 95-year-old is remembered as a humble servant. His pontificate was marred by the sex abuse scandal that shook the Catholic Church. One biographer noted that he fought against crimes committed by clergy against minors. Welcome back to Christian World News. As we enter the new year, resolutions are, of course, a big subject. And for many Christians, spending more time in their Bible tops that list, including reading it all the way through in a year. As Wendy Griffith, that's me. As I report, there are many resources available that can help turn that resolution into reality. It's a big book, and for Christians, it's the most important book that we ever read. But for many, it can also be the most challenging, especially if you want to read the entire Bible in a year. Actress Patricia Heaton reached that goal in December. And I finished it today. I can't believe it. I had two pages that I checked off all the time. And this is the second page. And as you can see, it's hanging on by a piece of tiny thread of paper. I just went through and kept checking off and checking off every day. You know, some days were just revelatory. I saw things I had never seen before. And some days were kind of a slog, mostly Old Testament stuff. known for her TV roles and everybody loves Raymond and the middle Heaton used a reading plan from the Gospel Coalition to help her with her goal at CBN we make it easy as well just go to CBN.com click the faith tab and subscribe to read through the Bible in a year each day you'll receive selections from the Old and New Testament delivered straight to your email you can also download the CBN devotional Bible app for a plan to read the entire Bible in a year. Some may wonder why so few Christians have read the entire Bible, all 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation. Dr. Cornet Becker, Dean of Divinity at Regent University says, So I often think we are a little bit intimidated by the history sections, as well as the law sections within the Old Testament. But once we discover that it is life-giving to read all of God's Word, to get the wisdom of the entire text, Not only does it become doable, easy, but it becomes delightful. Dr. Becker should know. He's read through the Bible 25 times and makes it a yearly discipline. What are the benefits of reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation straight through? So there's an extraordinary text in Psalms 19 that describes the benefits of meditating on God's word on a daily basis. And listen to what it says. The law of the law is perfect, reviving the soul. Isn't that something that we need? Secondly, it says the testament of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Man, do I need wisdom? I need wisdom on a daily basis. Then it goes on, it says the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. And then lastly, it says the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes, opens our eyes to see what is ultimately true. So if you've always wanted to read through the Bible in a year, but haven't had the time, you might be surprised to know that it only takes an average of 15 to 30 minutes a day, five days a week, to read through the entire Bible in a year. And who knows, once you've done it, reading the Bible through may become a yearly habit. I highly recommend it. I planning to do it for the first time so I going to do it If you would like to sign up for our Read Through the Bible in a Year program just go to CBN click on Faith at the top of the page Then on the Faith page, scroll down the right-hand side and click on Subscribe under Bible Reading Plans. It's easier than it sounds. We'll be right back after this. Welcome back. A nearly 3,000-year-old water reservoir where Jesus restored a blind man's sight, will be excavated and open to the public sometime in the upcoming months. The ancient pool of Siloam, which presumably served Jerusalem's population during biblical times, will be fully excavated and opened up for visitors for the first time after it was rediscovered 18 years ago. It was reportedly built by King Hezekiah near the southern part of the city in the 8th century B.C. in order to provide water to the inhabitants of the city of David. An extremely rare document from the first temple period of the Bible has been returned to Israel. The find has everyone asking questions about the person it's addressed to. CBN Middle East correspondent Julie Stahl takes a deep dive into the mystery. Today, what's been revealed is one of only three documents discovered dating to the first temple period, three papyri which contain documents dating back some 2,600 years. Joe Uziel of the Israel Antiquities Authority says the recently revealed document contains four lines of ancient Hebrew script. It's some kind of document written between two administrators or officials within the administration. One of them, we don't know his name, he's the sender, but the receiver's name is Yishmael, because the letter notes, le Yishmael, to Yishmael, and then he's asked or ordered, depending on how you interpret it, to send some sort of commodities. The bottom of the papyrus is missing, so the commodities are unknown. As to why it's here, fast forward thousands of years. When the woman passed away, she gave the relic to her son. The anti-roppery unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, together with Professor Achitub, become aware of this document's existence. They create a connection with this person in the U.S., who then comes to visit our unit here of the Israel Antiquities Authority and the laboratories and is convinced that this is the place to keep this document. Two other papyrus documents tell their own stories of that time period. The one being unveiled right now is the first one found, which actually is an interesting document because it has two layers of text. It's called a polymcest. So the original layer of text was written and that at some point in time it was erased in order to recycle the papyrus and use it once again to write a second layer of text. The second papyrus is like a receipt. This is another papyrus describing the sending of wine from a maratha, a site somewhere, we're not exactly sure where, to Yerushalema, to Jerusalem. And this is the earliest mention of Jerusalem in ancient Hebrew script. All three ancient relics come from the Judean desert, where the dry climate preserved them. Repatriating the Ishmael document is part of the Israel Antiquities Authority's process to prevent illegal sales and further plundering of cultural heritage. Julie Stahl, CBN News, Jerusalem. Thanks, Julie. So many fascinating things happening in Jerusalem. Well, thanks for joining us for this week. Until next week, goodbye and God bless you. Thank you.

Playlist coming soon.