China: recent persecution reflects broader trend
Persecution in China has filled the headlines recently. Authorities raided several house churches and arrested leaders within China, and harassed Chinese believers seeking shelter in Thailand. Asian Access reported, ‘These specific cases follow a broader trend. Over recent years the government is more concerned about the rise and influence of underground churches. People are monitored or put under house arrest.’ During Covid the government focused on China’s health, giving new momentum to underground churches which thousands were joining. As the pandemic waned the government began doing more reviews of online formats. There is in-depth discipleship in many places but Chinese believers are not afraid of persecution or pressure; they’ve been through this before. Their plan is Jesus. They want a better society by having people follow Christ and then improve their lives - better marriages, families, better commitment to their communities.
HONOURING GRAHAM POWER
06/04/1955 – 14/10/2022
Today we say goodbye to a dear mentor, father and friend, who walked closely with the Lord and whose life has touched millions around the globe.
Graham Power, a general in the Christian prayer & missions movement, visionary marketplace leader, philanthropist and dearly loved family man went to be with the Lord earlier today after succumbing to kidney failure and lung complications.
Graham was the founder and Chairman of the Power Group of Companies, formed in 1983. The company has made its mark in the world of construction, building and property development. In 2001 Graham initiated a stadium gathering in Cape Town, South Africa that saw 45,000 Christians pray for the needs of their nation. By 2010 this movement grew to become the largest prayer gathering in recorded history, where about 350 million people from 220 nations participated in the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday.
Unashamedly Ethical was launched internationally under Graham’s guidance in 2006, promoting ethics, values, and clean living across all sectors of society. The movement has also launched a youth arm, known as Tribe. In 2020 Graham brought together a number of leaders and ministries to launch Global Voice of Prayer, a new expression of unity in the global prayer movement. He also founded Heal our Land in 2021, an initiative focusing on developing sustainable solutions for social and spiritual challenges.
All of these ministries form part of a vision that Graham received from the Lord in 2006, entailing 3 waves starting from the Southern tip of Africa and crossing the continent of Africa into the nations around the globe. The first wave was a wave of prayer, expressed through the Global Day of Prayer movement 2001 – 2010. The second was a wave of ethics, values and clean living brought about by Unashamedly Ethical, in operation since 2006 to the present. The third wave Graham could only describe as a massive tsunami of transformational revival like the world has never seen. Graham strongly believed that there will be a dynamic global revival in the near future, following these ‘waves’ of prayer, ethics, values and clean living and ultimately, the healing of our land, based on 2 Chronicles 7:14. Many believe that we are beginning to see this third wave of transformational revival rise.
Graham had been diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow exactly a year prior and after a courageous battle was declared 0% cancer free earlier this year. A run in with COVID-19 triggered a series of complications with his health and Graham was hospitalized end of September after attending the Economic Summit Africa and a special Unashamedly Ethical Awards Gala where he received a Lifetime Leadership Award. He passed away peacefully on Friday, October 14th in the presence of his family. Graham is survived by his wife, Lauren, their children, Gary, Ilene, Nadene, Stephen and Alaine, and their 5 grandchildren, Geordie, Robert, Madison, Amelia and Gabriella, as well as his siblings, Theresa, Avril and Alex.
For any questions or to submit a tribute to Graham,
please contact Melani September – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Office Tel. +27 (0) 21 907 1330
Media mission growth in Pakistan
Only four years ago, PAK7 international had a staff of three people, one in the UK and two in Pakistan. It is incredible to see what God has done. In 2022, through partners in Pakistan, they had 30 people working with them; by 6 October there were 19 more. While three of last year’s interns moved on to new pastures, all 22 of the media school graduates are starting their internship programme and joining eight small production teams, ready to learn and grow. Internship is excellent training for young Christian media professionals, and is now giving a voice to young Christians in Pakistan. They have an incredible opportunity to make great programmes which will change the lives of generations of young viewers. Today’s growth is vital for them as they step up production of high-quality Christian shows for their channel.
Avoiding employee burnout
Kintsugi Hope is a Christian charity making a difference to people’s mental wellbeing. 'Kintsugi' is a Japanese technique for repairing pottery with seams of gold. The word means 'golden joinery'. This repair makes the object more beautiful, unique indeed: Instead of hiding scars it makes a feature of them. Kintsugi Hope wants mental and emotional health to be understood in supportive communities where people grow and flourish, and is warning churches and Christian organisations about the danger of employee burnout. Faith groups are especially susceptible to burnout: because people are highly motivated working for God, more pressure is put on them. Kintsugi Hope is offering employers training on the problem. Also the World Health Organisation has published its first ever mental health guidance to employers to help them avoid employee burnout, and a new NHS scheme will provide therapists for the workplace.
