Facing Reality

China has faced reality shows head-on with a ban on voting via the internet, telephone, or text messages. Aware of her people's growing interest in the American-style reality shows, China has also ruled that participants should be healthy and mature, and should not flirt with each other or display bad behavior. Beginning this fall, reality shows will no longer be broadcast during prime time evening hours.

Web Patrol

Beijing's Public Security Ministry has recently begun to use animated officers that pop up on a user's browser and walk, bike or drive across the screen warning them to stay away from illegal Internet content. The cartoon alerts will appear every half hour on 13 of China's top portals, and by the end of the year will appear on all Web sites registered with Beijing servers.

Upwardly Mobile

One new high rise building of 30 stories or more has been constructed in Shanghai every 12 days for the last six years! The World Financial Center, now under construction in Shanghai, will be the highest building in the world at the completion of its construction in 2008.

Focus on Macau

Gambling Capitol of World

Macau has long been known as the city where Robert Morrison, the earliest Protestant missionary to China, first planted the seeds of the gospel 200 years ago. Tragically, the former Portuguese colony that reverted to Chinese rule in 1999 is now also known as the largest casino gaming market in the world, having surpassed Las Vegas at the end of 2006! As the only place in China where gambling is legal, Macau drew 22 million visitors last year. Most of them were from other parts of China. Currently, 27 casinos are operating, and five more are under construction. More than 45,000 people work in the industry, representing about 10 percent of Macau's total population.

Casino Worker Outreach

Christian workers are focused on sharing Christ with casino workers that comprise a huge segment of Macau society. Through the Seed Project, small gift packets are given to casino workers as an expression of God's love. Through English classes for casino workers, relationships are developed and the Good News is shared. Several new believers have already resulted from the faithful witness of Christians. Please pray that many thousands more will soon be reached for Christ.

From A Frontline Worker

No Turning Back

The farmer awoke in the morning to find a pool of water a meter deep in front of his home. "See how much God wants you to be baptized," the believer told him. "He has provided the water for you." The young farmer agreed to be baptized that day. Before he entered the water, the Christian brother asked him several questions. "Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead? Do you believe that Jesus has forgiven you of all your sins? Are you telling everyone here that you will follow Jesus and never turn back? Even if people curse you or hit you, or threaten to arrest you and throw you in jail, or even threaten to kill; will you still follow Jesus and never turn back?" He genuinely considered these questions in his heart before answering and being baptized. So later when the young farmer was arrested and had his possessions taken away because of preaching the gospel, and even when he lost his newborn child while in prison, he did not turn back. He had already made the decision in his heart to follow Jesus no matter the cost. To read the rest of the story go to: http://easia.imb.org/stories/111307.htm

Thanksgiving Prayers

Thanking Him

As East Asia workers gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving, their praise lists will be long and varied. But all of them will thank God for salvation, watch care, protection, and provision. They will also give thanks for the incredible blessing of serving Him in China supported by the generous Lottie Moon and Cooperative Program offerings of Southern Baptists.

Remembering Them

As you lie down to sleep on Thanksgiving night, please take a moment to thank God for itinerant Chinese evangelists who are on the road away from their families, sleeping on narrow wooden structures or the ground, eating the simplest of meals, and wearing the only clothes that they own. Pray that God will give us all a sense of gratitude for what we have, a sense of appreciation for those who serve joyfully with so much less, and an appropriate sense of generosity in regard to that which He wants us to share so that all the world might know Him.

Early Christmas Gift For You

Why pray for China? We can think of 1.3 billion reasons! As a special offer to our readers during this Lottie Moon Christmas Offering season, we are offering you this prayer magnet free. To get yours, click here. Be sure to order sufficient numbers to challenge others within your realm of influence to pray for China as well.