Outdoor church services to encourage persecuted Christians

Release International is inviting churches to hold an open-air service next month in solidarity with Christians around the world who are forced to meet outside because of state interference.

Christians in parts of China, Indonesia and central Asia have been barred from meeting indoors because their church buildings were closed down by the authorities.

Shouwang Church, one of Beijing's largest house churches, has been meeting outside for a year after the authorities refused to register the church. Churchgoers are routinely arrested as they hold services outside.

A church spokesman said: "Even though we've been through months of battles and are feeling tired in body and soul, our desire to worship God is unchanged."

In Indonesia, the Filadelfia Batak church, near Jakarta has been worshipping outside since mass protests by Islamist hardliners led to its closure. The Yasmin Protestant church of West Java has also had to worship in the open air after the mayor opposed construction plans.

Churches in Britain are being asked to take part in the Great Outdoors Church Service on 20 or 27 May.

"Would you be willing to worship in the open air in all weathers if the authorities closed down your church?" said Release.

"And would you be prepared to risk arrest – every single week – just for gathering to praise God together?

"To show our support for these persecuted Christians we are inviting churches throughout the UK and Ireland to stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters by holding a Sunday meeting outdoors."

Although it may be too difficult for some churches to meet in the open air, Release encouraged Christians in Britain to join in praying for those denied the freedom to worship indoors.

"Please pray that these courageous Christians would continue to be strong in the Lord; that they would know divine wisdom in how to relate to the authorities and respond with grace to those who oppose them.

"Pray that they would know God's presence as they meet outdoors and that their witness would speak strongly to the authorities of God's great love."

News
The mystery of the Wise Men
The mystery of the Wise Men

The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …

English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.

The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations 
The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations 

Today in the UK we celebrate Christmas and the period around it with many familiar traditions and activities. There is an understandable assumption that we have always done things this way. However, celebrating Christmas has a long and complex history and things change over time.