They’re hot right now.
That’s what we say when the police are on your trail; when you are being followed; when you’re wanted for doing Christian ministry in China.
Hot like a hot potato. Hot on the radar.
Just days before we sent Sister Li and Sister Zhang to the Philippines for an intensive leadership training that we arranged for four of our local co-workers, the police were searching for them. These two faithful young women have been reaching unreached tribal children and church planting at The Edge on the Myanmar border for many years.
They had recently passed out school supplies and free backpacks as gifts for the 150 children attending our regular vacation Bible school, and the authorities did not like it. Local school teachers lost face (“We can take care of our own children!”), and complained to the local government.
The police force visited the homes of every child, demanding that they burn the gifts that our local missionaries had given them. It was a childish, anti-Christian way of defacing the reputation of our local missionaries, and in a deeper way, the name of Jesus.
The children were confused, the mothers and fathers of each child alarmed at what was happening. They had experienced nothing but the love of God for the first time at our regular vacation Bible school, and now fear of persecution began to set in.
The police took Sister Li and Sister Zhang to the station, interrogated them for many hours, and tried to manipulate the situation. They tried to scare the living God out of the two local missionary girls.
But Sister Li and Sister Zhang instead tried to scare the hell out of the local police. Literally.
“Who is this God that you are telling the kids about?” the chief of police demanded rhetorically. But the last thing you want to be with a fiery underground missionary is rhetorical.
“Sit down,” Sister Li raised her voice boldly, “I’m about to tell you who he is right now!”
The two powerful young underground missionaries began to preach the gospel to the chief of police and the local authorities. They told them about God’s purpose for them, God’s love for the people of the earth.
“This is why we are blessing the children. We believe that God loves them, and he loves you too. We would appreciate it if you stopped hindering us from sharing God’s love.”
The police were surprised at the boldness of the young women. But they warned them not to preach the gospel anymore, and to discontinue the Bible studies.
Two days later, the girls were on an airplane to the Philippines for intensive leadership training. The police could not harass them anymore, but still continued to scare the local children and families.
Sister Li and Sister Zhang went cold. Although they were still wanted by the police, they were unable to persecute them further.
Just recently the two missionary girls returned to ministry at The Edge. When the police learned that they had returned, again the police visited them, warning them against Christian ministry.
Prostitution.
Human trafficking.
Lack of education.
Drugs.
Poverty.
These are the major issues at The Edge region––the northern tip of the Golden Triangle. And yet the authorities continue to focus on stopping the advancement of God’s kingdom among the poor and unreached.
Sister Li and Sister Zhang are hot again. They are wanted. They are on the radar. They are being watched by Big Brother’s prying eyes.
But they are also bold as ever, secretly sharing the gospel among the unreached tribal people’s around The Edge center.
We covet your prayers. We need you to stand with us as we seek to bring the gospel to the “ends of the earth.” That was Jesus’ command, and we are compelled. Are you compelled as well? If so, please pray with us, supporting Sister Li and Sister Zhang through financial blessing and prayer support.
Yes, this is a difficult ministry when you are being persecuted by the police. Yes, there are times when we want to give up. But yes, God is in control, and in the end, he will receive all the glory as unreached people groups are reached with his love.