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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Asia (02/26/09)
The light from the candle flickered against the wall. The handcrafted wax molding was used for a candle. It was placed on the small table in the middle of the room and it was the only illumination. A group of ten people sat in a circle. Yo Chen sat with her head bowed and her eyes closed. Like the others, she didn’t make a noise. She wanted to cry. She wanted to lift her hands and yell out praises to the One that had given her life in a country where there was no life. Meeting together for religious purposes could mean brutal punishment or death.

Yo Chen passed her page of the Bible to the one on her right. The person on her right passed her page to her right and pages were passed around the circle. Still, no one said a word. The atmosphere was still. She did not know how this meeting was originally introduced. But, when she had heard about it, she wanted to become involved as much as she could. Even though her family and friends knew nothing about this meeting, she prayed for them. Yo Chen was confident in the fact that if God could reach her in a place where He was not welcomed, He could reach her family and friends. She was grateful that she had heard the Good News and received Jesus into her heart.

Tonight, as it had been done for many months and years, Yo Chen was going to present the Lord’s Supper to the group. In the town of Wuhan, there were no ministers of the Gospel. The group wanted to remember the Lord’s suffering and worship Him. But, they had to do it secretively. This night was Yo Chen’s time to greet the group and lead them in this worship.

She raised her hand and the eyes of the people were on her. She didn’t speak. She mouthed her words, “Tonight, we want to remember what Jesus did for us.”

She began to quote the scriptures without making any utterance. “The same night, He took the bread.” She lifted her tiny hands up and broke the imaginary bread. She handed the loaf to the person on her right and they tore a piece of the pretend loaf and passed it to the right. When everyone had a piece, she continued. “He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat, this is my body that is broken for you.” The group put the piece of the make-believe bread in their mouths and chewed.

“Then He took the cup,” she continued. “And He said, ‘This is my blood that was shed for you.’” She took a sip of an imaginary cup and gave it to the person on her right who passed it to the one seated next to her. The imaginary cup went around the group and each one sipped. Tears flowed from people with grateful hearts.

Yo Chen concluded her time by mouthing these words, “He did all of this because He loves us. When we love one another, we show His love. Even when we are persecuted for His sake, and we love those that persecute us, we are showing His love.”

The nine others nodded affirmatively. They knew what she was saying. Forgiveness heals the hurts. They continued to pray silently for a while. When the hour was gone, they left the room and the house with little notice from the outside world. They had ticked their new page of the Bible in their clothes and disappeared until a time next month.

Yo Chen had been excited all day for this small meeting. She had not known that meetings like this were happening in several towns all over China.
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This article has been read 811 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Faithful Okoye 
03/05/09
Nice. Very nice. It's sad that this is happening in many countries in Asia. May God help them
Norma-Anne Hough
03/06/09
Thank you for this story which highlights the persecution of Christians in many parts of Asia. I liked this one.
Josiah Kane
03/06/09
This is a very powerful piece. I liked the way you demonstrated the incredible secrecy that must go into a Christian life in an irreligious nation. By the way, don't forget to read some of the other stories in Intermediates and leave feedback. Let's all help one another.
Coleene VanTilburg 
03/06/09
If only us blessed with freedom could truly comprehend the devotion, bravery and faith of those who worship in secret. We would see are daily devotion and prayer time as more of opportunity then a ritual. I had to stop and pray for my brothers and sisiters in these persecuted lands. Thanks for the images and reminders that God's Word is so precious.
Mildred Sheldon
03/06/09
This article tells a great truth which we truly do not think about because we can read our bibles go to church and praise God openly. Thank you for pointing out how people outside of the United States must hide and meet in secret to worship God. Good job.
Jana Kelley
03/07/09
This kept my attention and was informative at the same time. I felt like I was sitting in the room with them. Well done.
Karlene Jacobsen 
03/09/09
I felt the awesomeness of this quiet meeting. You wrote the scene well.
Loren T. Lowery
03/11/09
Very impressive piece. It really engaged the reader and presented a slice of life that is not familiar to everyone. It also points out in a subtle way, how effective reverence for the Bible and the Word can be. Those things done in silence can be dynamic and your article articulates this very well.
Gary J. Borgstede
03/12/09
I really liked the way you illustrated the power of silent prayer in this setting. Because of the persecution I can understand the reason for it in this story. Even though no words were spoken, I could feel the spirootual impact of sch a meeting.

Something to consider is that I wasn't quite sure why the Lord's Supper was not served with real elements though...I think some further explanation for not having real elements would strengthen the story. Also, I don't think having real elements would take anything away from the powerful silent setting either.

Great writing to make me feel like I was actually there in the room.