Help Free Chen Guangcheng and His Family

May 3, 2012

Early today, the missionary team at Faith and Action gathered in the brisk morning air of our nation’s capital for the ONLY National Day of Prayer observance held at the steps of the United States Supreme Court. There, we fervently prayed on behalf of our nation and its leaders for the winds of revival to once again blow across America.

After our prayer at the court, our team attended the “by invitation only” National Day of Prayer meeting in the Canon Building of the U.S .House of Representatives.

We rejoice that pastors and leaders from diverse places like Arkansas, Illinois, and the State of Washington joined us in our efforts today to be a prophetic witness to our national leaders. We rejoice that God has uniquely positioned us right across the street from the United States Supreme Court, one block from the U.S. Capitol Building, and ten minutes from the White House. We take seriously our divine calling to challenge the hearts and minds of our national elected and appointed officials with biblical truth.

That’s why, in spite of my joy in our efforts in Washington today, I’m gravely concerned and deeply saddened.

What so distresses and alarms me is the cowardly way the administration sold out a hero of the faith. I’m speaking about Chen Guangcheng, the blind dissident in China who first revealed to the public the abhorrent practice of forced abortions and sterilization to sustain China’s “one child” policy.

Undated photo provided by the China Aid Association shows blind Chinese attorney Chen Guangcheng with his son, Chen Kerui, and his wife, Yuan Weijing, in Shandong province, China. (Photo from www.ChinaAid.org)

It appears the Obama administration has betrayed Mr. Chen by allowing him to be placed into the hands of the Chinese government without assuring that his rights and his safety would be protected. Tweets coming out of China from Mr. Chen and his wife make clear that the only reason Mr. Chen left the U.S. Embassy was because he was told that his wife would be beaten if he did not leave immediately. Our officials assured him that if he went to the hospital they would make certain he was safe. Once in the hospital, it seems our “officials” abandoned him.

Mr. Chen now wants to leave China and fears for his safety and the safety of his family. He expressed dismay that the American government failed him—even misled him. If that is true, and we have no reason not to believe that Mr. Chen is telling the truth, the actions of our “officials” are a national embarrassment, a national disgrace. WE CANNOT LET THAT STAND!

Blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng is handled by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, right, and U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke as they leave the U.S. Embassy for a hospital in Beijing on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (Photo by U.S. Embassy Beijing Press Office)

That’s why one of our Faith and Action missionaries, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, will lead a prayer vigil and demonstration in support of Chen Guangcheng in front of the White House on Friday, May 4 at Noon.

The vigil will be at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW on the Lafayette Park side. We will be praying for Chen Guangcheng and his family and calling upon President Obama and the United States to ensure his safety and protection—just as we promised we would.

As Pat Mahoney said, “It is ironic that as President Obama has been touting his leadership in ‘getting’ Osama Bin Laden that he would now show no moral courage or leadership in standing up to the Chinese government and demanding the release and safety of Chen Guangcheng. It is critical that President Obama not betray Chen Guangcheng and the principles of justice for which he has been imprisoned, beaten and tortured.”

Now here’s what you can do:

1) PRAY! Wherever you are, take a moment on Friday at noon (Eastern Time) to pray for Chen, for his family and for our nation. These are critical moments in our nation’s history and they call for serious, united prayers. There is power in unified prayer! I still believe prayer makes a difference.

2) GIVE! Everything we do is the result of the financial support of our friends—friends like you. We have no other means of support. These events are critical and demand a response. But with the economy continuing to falter, we are financially strained. We simply do not have the funds to cover our costs. Right now we need your help to make certain we can remain your prophetic voice to our elected and appointed officials. Can we count on you?

Your gift of will enable us to effectively challenge the administration to stand up for Chen Guangcheng and stop betraying the principles of justice upon which our nation was founded.

To make your gift to Faith and Action in support of Chen Guangcheng, click here.

Thank you. We’ll keep you informed.

Your missionary to our nation’s capital,

Rev. Rob Schenck