Against the odds, nature is fighting back. Thanks to growing wildflower conservation efforts, pollinators are finding food, habitats are recovering, and ecosystems are beginning to heal. The recovery has started let's keep it going.
关于设立1月9日为“中国信仰自由日”暨每月9日为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”的倡议书(后附英文)
亲爱的众教会弟兄姐妹们,在基督里愿你们平安!
在过去十余年间,9日这个平凡的日期,却成为一个非凡的标记。它指向中国家庭教会经历的多起重大教案:2011年4月9日,北京守望教案;2015年12月9日,贵阳活石教案;2018年1月9日,临汾金灯堂教案(教堂被爆破);2018年9月9日,北京锡安教案;2018年12月9日,成都秋雨教案;2025年10月9日,中国锡安教案。除了这些教案之外,同样发生在9日的,还有2015年7月9日,中国709维权律师大抓捕事件,其中涉及多位基督徒律师及多起宗教逼迫案件。故此,本倡议书基于《“12.9”——为受逼迫的中国家庭教会祷告日倡议书》(2023年12月9日),进一步提出设立1月9日为“中国信仰自由日”,以及每月9日为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”的郑重倡议。本倡议旨在进一步促进社会各界人士对中国信仰自由现状的密切关注,更重要的是,进一步挑旺普世教会为中国受逼迫教会的热切祷告。
一、核心倡议
1. 倡议将1月9日设为“中国信仰自由日”
10月27日是“国际宗教自由日” (International Religious Freedom Day),旨在促进全球范围内的宗教和信仰自由,并对宗教自由受限的地区表示关注。中国并没有官方设立的“宗教自由日”。虽然中国宪法规定中国公民“享有宗教信仰的自由”,但是在现实中却存在诸多对宗教信仰的限制和管控,尤其是对非官方认可的宗教团体包括家庭教会存在长期的打压和逼迫。因此,我们倡议将1月9日设为中国信仰自由日(China Freedom of Faith Day),自2026年1月9日开始生效,旨在促进中国的宗教信仰自由得到切实的改善和完全的保障。
2. 倡议将每月9日设为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”
自2025年“10·9”锡安教案以来,锡安教会受到国际社会的广泛关注和全球教会的代祷支持。世界各地的许多主内肢体带着“一同受苦”的心志(林前12:26),为遭受逼迫的锡安教会乃至中国教会而同心祷告。藉此圣灵的工作,我们倡议将每月9日常设为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”。在每月9日,我们鼓励弟兄姐妹按照圣灵感动和身体情况进行全天禁食,以全身心地投入为中国受逼迫教会的个人祷告和群体祷告。我们期待每月9日祷告运动与“全球为受逼迫的中国教会祷告会”(IDOP China)、秋雨圣约教会发起的“中国的下午五点钟”国度祷告会、北美浸信会信友堂“户外晨祷会”等已存的相关祷告事奉,能够配搭连接、互补同工,共筑祷告的城墙。
二、代祷提议
1. 常设代祷事项:
(1) 为遭受逼迫的中国教会、基督徒及其家属祷告
“九”与“久”同音,我们在每月九日同声呼求:主啊,还要多久,要到几时,你才为你被苦待迫害的子民伸冤呢(诗13:1;启6:10)?求主按照你纯全美善的旨意,在你所定的时间,释放你被捆锁拘禁的仆人使女。求主恒久的恩典平安常与为义受逼迫的人及其家属同在,保守坚固你高墙内外的儿女都活出基督里无法剥夺的自由。愿主怜悯安慰受到冲击惊扰的家庭尤其妇孺,亲自作她们的保护者、伸冤者和供应者,通过教会神的家,支持他们在属灵、经济、法务和情感等各方面的需要。
(2) 为中国的信仰自由、尊重人权与依法治国祷告
“九”与“纠”谐音,我们在每月九日谦卑代求:主啊,愿你“察看这有罪的国”(摩9:8),纠正涂抹我们的罪恶过犯(徒3:19),尤其是神州大地对真神的敌挡,以及这地的当权者对属神子民的逼迫。求主纠正撤销一切违反中国宪法、国际法则和神圣律法的“非法之法”,包括新《宗教事务条例》和《互联网宗教信息服务管理办法》等下位法规,以保证中国公民的信仰自由,包括在实体和网络空间表达和实践基督信仰。求主祝福和转化中国及其在上掌权者,敬天爱人,惩恶扬善,秉公执法,利国利民。
(3) 为神藉逼迫炼净并复兴中国乃至普世教会祷告
“九”与“救”谐音,我们在每月九日热切祈求:主啊,愿你“施行救恩,直到地极”(赛49:6;徒13:47)。求主不只是救拔教会得胜逼迫患难,更是透过教会走十字架的道路,愿基督的福音临到更多灵魂,成全上帝的救赎计划。主啊,你在新约教会诞生之初,乃至两千多年的大公教会历史中,包括中国家庭教会的历史中,都曾藉着逼迫患难不断炼净和复兴你的教会。求主继续兴起在逼迫中奋勇前行的中国教会,甘作神手中的器皿,激励全球教会,同心兴旺福音,合作拓展神国,共担宣教使命。
2. 特别代祷事项:
除上述常设代祷事项以外,每月9日祷告会可按照当月情况收集特别代祷事项。例如:2025年12月9日的祷告会包含贵阳活石教会教案10周年、成都秋雨圣约教会教案7周年纪念,并特别为金明日牧师等被拘禁的锡安教会牧者同工在北海看守所中能够获得并阅读圣经而禁食祷告。
三、参与建议
1. 以教会或机构名义参与联署,成为本倡议共同发起人
请发送签署电邮至:[email protected]
请注明教会或机构名称,以及负责人姓名
2. 以教会或机构名义认领某月9日祷告会的组织与筹备
例如:锡安教会及所属圣道联会认领负责每年10月9日祷告会;
秋雨圣约教会或者贵阳活石教会认领负责每年12月9日祷告会。
3. 以个人或团队方式参与每月9日祷告会的活动与服侍
欢迎众教会的弟兄姐妹委身参与每月9日举行的禁食祷告会
鼓励基督徒个人或团队参与每月9日祷告会的各项义工服侍
我们约定每月九日,为了受逼迫的中国教会,同心合意、禁食祷告:
火炼信心,历久弥坚;震动神州,纠正罪愆;复兴教会,救恩彰显!
倡议发起人:
锡安教会 龙降恩牧师
北美浸信会信友堂 洪予健牧师
丰收华夏基督教会 张伯笠牧师
秋雨圣约教会/秋雨圣工 陈彪牧师
尼哥底母真理追寻会 张坦弟兄
承光学会 傅凯彬牧师
芝加哥新光基督教会 Joseph Jiang牧师
纽约晨光基督教会 郑乐国牧师
主后2026年3月9日
#锡安109教案 #FreeZionChurch #PrayForZionChurch
A Proposal to Designate January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day” and the 9th of Every Month as a “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China”
Dear brothers and sisters of all churches, may you have peace in Christ!
Over the past decade or so, the 9th—an otherwise ordinary date—has emerged as an extraordinary symbol. It points to a series of major persecution against the house churches in China: April 9, 2011—the Beijing Shouwang Church case; December 9, 2015—the Guiyang Huoshi Church case; January 9, 2018—the Linfen Golden Lampstand Church case (in which the church building was demolished by explosives); September 9, 2018—the Beijing Zion Church case; December 9, 2018—the Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church case; and October 9, 2025—the China Zion Church case. In addition to these church-related incidents, another significant event occurring on the 9th was the “709 Crackdown” on human rights lawyers in China on July 9, 2015—an event that involved numerous Christian lawyers and was intertwined with multiple cases of religious persecution. Therefore, building upon the “Proposal for a December 9th Day of Prayer for Persecuted House Churches in China” (issued on December 9, 2023), this document puts forth a solemn proposal to designate January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day,” and the 9th of every month as a “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China.” The aim of this initiative is to further encourage people from all walks of life to pay close attention to the current state of religious freedom in China, and—more importantly—to further kindle fervent prayer among the global church on behalf of the persecuted churches in China.
I. Core Proposals
1. Proposal to Designate January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day”
October 27th is “International Religious Freedom Day,” a day intended to promote religious and belief freedom on a global scale and to draw attention to regions where religious freedom is restricted. China currently has no officially designated “Religious Freedom Day.” Although the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China stipulates that Chinese citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief,” in reality, numerous restrictions and controls are imposed upon religious faith. In particular, there has been a long-standing campaign of suppression and persecution directed at religious groups not officially recognized by the state—including “house churches.” Therefore, we propose designating January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day,” effective starting January 9, 2026. This initiative aims to foster tangible improvements in, and ensure the full protection of, religious freedom within China.
2. Proposal to Designate the 9th of Every Month as a “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China”
Since the “October 9th” Zion Church case in 2025, Zion Church has garnered widespread attention from the international community and received intercessory support from churches around the globe. Many brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide—embracing the spirit of “suffering together” (1 Corinthians 12:26)—have united in prayer for the persecuted Zion Church, and indeed for the broader Church in China. Inspired by the work of the Holy Spirit, we propose establishing the 9th of every month as a standing “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China.” On the 9th of each month, we encourage brothers and sisters to observe a full-day fast—guided by the leading of the Holy Spirit and their own physical health—thereby devoting themselves wholeheartedly to both personal and corporate prayer on behalf of the persecuted Church in China. We look forward to seeing this monthly prayer movement coordinate, connect, and work in complementarity with existing prayer ministries—such as the “International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in China” (IDOP China), the “5:00 PM in China” Kingdom Prayer Gathering initiated by Early Rain Covenant Church, and the “Outdoor Morning Prayer Meeting” hosted by the North American Baptist Church of the Faithful—so that, together, we may build a spiritual “wall of prayer.”
II. Intercessory Prayer Suggestions
1. Standing Prayer Points:
(1) Pray for the persecuted Church in China, for individual Christians, and for their families.
In Chinese, the number “nine” (九jiǔ) is homophonous with the word for “long-lasting” or “how long” (久jiǔ). Thus, on the 9th of every month, we raise our voices in unison to cry out: “O Lord, how long must we wait? Until when will You delay in avenging Your people who are being mistreated and persecuted?” (Psalm 13:1; Revelation 6:10). We pray, O Lord, that in accordance with Your perfect and good will, and at Your appointed time, You would release Your servants—both men and women—who are currently bound and imprisoned. May Your enduring grace and peace ever abide with those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness, as well as with their families; may You preserve and strengthen Your children—both those within high walls and those outside them—enabling them all to live out the indomitable freedom found in Christ. May the Lord show mercy and offer comfort to families that have been shaken and distressed—especially the women and children among them—personally acting as their Protector, Vindicator, and Provider; and, through the Church—the household of God—may You support them in all their needs: spiritual, financial, legal, and emotional.
(2) A Prayer for Religious Freedom, Respect for Human Rights, and the Rule of Law in China
Since the number “nine” (九jiǔ) sounds like “to correct” (纠jiū), we humbly intercede on the ninth day of every month: O Lord, may You “look upon this sinful kingdom” (Amos 9:8) and correct and blot out our sins and transgressions (Acts 3:19)—specifically, the hostility shown across the land of China toward the true God, and the persecution inflicted by those in authority in this land against the people who belong to God. We pray, O Lord, that You would correct and revoke all “unlawful laws” that violate China's Constitution, international norms, and divine law—including subsidiary regulations such as the new “Regulations on Religious Affairs” and the “Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services”—thereby guaranteeing religious freedom for all Chinese citizens, including the liberty to express and practice the Christian faith in both physical and cyberspace. We pray that You would bless and transform China and those in authority over it, that they may revere Heaven and love their neighbors, punish evil and promote good, uphold justice in the application of the law, and serve the best interests of both the nation and its people.
(3) A Prayer that God Would Refine and Revive the Church—in China and Globally—Through Persecution
Since the number “nine” (九jiǔ) also sounds like “salvation” (救jiù), we fervently pray on the ninth day of every month: O Lord, may You “bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47). We pray, O Lord, not merely that You would deliver the Church to triumph over persecution and tribulation, but rather that—as the Church walks the path of the Cross—the Gospel of Christ may reach even more souls, thereby fulfilling God's redemptive plan. O Lord, from the very inception of the New Testament Church, throughout the two-thousand-year history of the universal Church, and indeed within the history of the house churches in China, You have consistently utilized persecution and tribulation to refine and revive Your Church. We pray that the Lord will continue to raise up the Chinese church—pressing forward courageously amidst persecution—to willingly serve as instruments in God's hands, inspiring the global church to unite in heart to advance the Gospel, collaborate in expanding God's Kingdom, and share together in the mission of evangelism.
2. Specific Prayer Requests:
In addition to the standing prayer requests mentioned above, the prayer meeting held on the 9th of each month may incorporate specific prayer requests gathered according to the circumstances of that particular month. For example: The prayer meeting on December 9, 2025, will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the “Living Stone Church Case” in Guiyang and the 7th anniversary of the “Early Rain Covenant Church Case” in Chengdu; it will also feature a time of fasting and prayer specifically for Pastor Jin Mingri and other detained pastors and co-workers from Zion Church, praying that they may be granted access to and permission to read the Bible while held in the Beihai Detention Center.
III. Suggestions for Participation
1. Participate in the joint signing initiative on behalf of a church or organization, thereby becoming a co-initiator of this campaign.
Please send your signing request via email to: [email protected]
Please clearly state the name of your church or organization, as well as the name of the person in charge.
2. Volunteer—on behalf of a church or organization—to take responsibility for organizing and preparing the prayer meeting held on the 9th of a specific month.
For example: Zion Church and its affiliated Holy Word Alliance might volunteer to take charge of the prayer meeting held on October 9th each year;
Early Rain Covenant Church or Living Stone Church might volunteer to take charge of the prayer meeting held on December 9th each year.
3. Participate as an individual or a team in the activities and ministry service associated with the monthly prayer meetings held on the 9th.
Brothers and sisters from all churches are warmly invited to make a commitment to participate in the fasting and prayer meetings held on the 9th of every month.
Individual Christians and teams are encouraged to volunteer their services in various capacities during the monthly prayer meetings held on the 9th.
We hereby pledge to gather on the 9th (九jiǔ) of every month—united in heart and mind—to fast and pray on behalf of the persecuted church in China:
May our faith, refined by fire, grow ever stronger even over long time (久jiǔ);
May God’s power shake the land of China and correct (纠jiū) its transgressions;
May the Church be revived, and God’s salvation (救jiù) be made manifest!
Initiators (the list below will grow longer over time):
Rev. Sean Long, Zion Church / Zion Global Ministry
Rev. Hong Yujian, Faith Chinese Baptist Church (Vancouver)
Rev. Zhang Boli, Harvest Chinese Christian Church (Los Angeles)
Rev. Chen Biao, Early Rain Covenant Church / Early Rain Ministries
Brother Zhang Tan, Nicodemus Truth-Seeking Association (Australia)
Rev. Fu Kaibin, Inherit Institute (Dallas)
Rev. Joseph Jiang, New Light Christian Church (Chicago)
Rev. Zheng Leguo, Morning Light Christian Church (New York)
March 9, 2026
关于设立1月9日为“中国信仰自由日”暨每月9日为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”的倡议书(后附英文)
亲爱的众教会弟兄姐妹们,在基督里愿你们平安!
在过去十余年间,9日这个平凡的日期,却成为一个非凡的标记。它指向中国家庭教会经历的多起重大教案:2011年4月9日,北京守望教案;2015年12月9日,贵阳活石教案;2018年1月9日,临汾金灯堂教案(教堂被爆破);2018年9月9日,北京锡安教案;2018年12月9日,成都秋雨教案;2025年10月9日,中国锡安教案。除了这些教案之外,同样发生在9日的,还有2015年7月9日,中国709维权律师大抓捕事件,其中涉及多位基督徒律师及多起宗教逼迫案件。故此,本倡议书基于《“12.9”——为受逼迫的中国家庭教会祷告日倡议书》(2023年12月9日),进一步提出设立1月9日为“中国信仰自由日”,以及每月9日为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”的郑重倡议。本倡议旨在进一步促进社会各界人士对中国信仰自由现状的密切关注,更重要的是,进一步挑旺普世教会为中国受逼迫教会的热切祷告。
一、核心倡议
1. 倡议将1月9日设为“中国信仰自由日”
10月27日是“国际宗教自由日” (International Religious Freedom Day),旨在促进全球范围内的宗教和信仰自由,并对宗教自由受限的地区表示关注。中国并没有官方设立的“宗教自由日”。虽然中国宪法规定中国公民“享有宗教信仰的自由”,但是在现实中却存在诸多对宗教信仰的限制和管控,尤其是对非官方认可的宗教团体包括家庭教会存在长期的打压和逼迫。因此,我们倡议将1月9日设为中国信仰自由日(China Freedom of Faith Day),自2026年1月9日开始生效,旨在促进中国的宗教信仰自由得到切实的改善和完全的保障。
2. 倡议将每月9日设为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”
自2025年“10·9”锡安教案以来,锡安教会受到国际社会的广泛关注和全球教会的代祷支持。世界各地的许多主内肢体带着“一同受苦”的心志(林前12:26),为遭受逼迫的锡安教会乃至中国教会而同心祷告。藉此圣灵的工作,我们倡议将每月9日常设为“为中国受逼迫教会禁食祷告日”。在每月9日,我们鼓励弟兄姐妹按照圣灵感动和身体情况进行全天禁食,以全身心地投入为中国受逼迫教会的个人祷告和群体祷告。我们期待每月9日祷告运动与“全球为受逼迫的中国教会祷告会”(IDOP China)、秋雨圣约教会发起的“中国的下午五点钟”国度祷告会、北美浸信会信友堂“户外晨祷会”等已存的相关祷告事奉,能够配搭连接、互补同工,共筑祷告的城墙。
二、代祷提议
1. 常设代祷事项:
(1) 为遭受逼迫的中国教会、基督徒及其家属祷告
“九”与“久”同音,我们在每月九日同声呼求:主啊,还要多久,要到几时,你才为你被苦待迫害的子民伸冤呢(诗13:1;启6:10)?求主按照你纯全美善的旨意,在你所定的时间,释放你被捆锁拘禁的仆人使女。求主恒久的恩典平安常与为义受逼迫的人及其家属同在,保守坚固你高墙内外的儿女都活出基督里无法剥夺的自由。愿主怜悯安慰受到冲击惊扰的家庭尤其妇孺,亲自作她们的保护者、伸冤者和供应者,通过教会神的家,支持他们在属灵、经济、法务和情感等各方面的需要。
(2) 为中国的信仰自由、尊重人权与依法治国祷告
“九”与“纠”谐音,我们在每月九日谦卑代求:主啊,愿你“察看这有罪的国”(摩9:8),纠正涂抹我们的罪恶过犯(徒3:19),尤其是神州大地对真神的敌挡,以及这地的当权者对属神子民的逼迫。求主纠正撤销一切违反中国宪法、国际法则和神圣律法的“非法之法”,包括新《宗教事务条例》和《互联网宗教信息服务管理办法》等下位法规,以保证中国公民的信仰自由,包括在实体和网络空间表达和实践基督信仰。求主祝福和转化中国及其在上掌权者,敬天爱人,惩恶扬善,秉公执法,利国利民。
(3) 为神藉逼迫炼净并复兴中国乃至普世教会祷告
“九”与“救”谐音,我们在每月九日热切祈求:主啊,愿你“施行救恩,直到地极”(赛49:6;徒13:47)。求主不只是救拔教会得胜逼迫患难,更是透过教会走十字架的道路,愿基督的福音临到更多灵魂,成全上帝的救赎计划。主啊,你在新约教会诞生之初,乃至两千多年的大公教会历史中,包括中国家庭教会的历史中,都曾藉着逼迫患难不断炼净和复兴你的教会。求主继续兴起在逼迫中奋勇前行的中国教会,甘作神手中的器皿,激励全球教会,同心兴旺福音,合作拓展神国,共担宣教使命。
2. 特别代祷事项:
除上述常设代祷事项以外,每月9日祷告会可按照当月情况收集特别代祷事项。例如:2025年12月9日的祷告会包含贵阳活石教会教案10周年、成都秋雨圣约教会教案7周年纪念,并特别为金明日牧师等被拘禁的锡安教会牧者同工在北海看守所中能够获得并阅读圣经而禁食祷告。
三、参与建议
1. 以教会或机构名义参与联署,成为本倡议共同发起人
请发送签署电邮至:[email protected]
请注明教会或机构名称,以及负责人姓名
2. 以教会或机构名义认领某月9日祷告会的组织与筹备
例如:锡安教会及所属圣道联会认领负责每年10月9日祷告会;
秋雨圣约教会或者贵阳活石教会认领负责每年12月9日祷告会。
3. 以个人或团队方式参与每月9日祷告会的活动与服侍
欢迎众教会的弟兄姐妹委身参与每月9日举行的禁食祷告会
鼓励基督徒个人或团队参与每月9日祷告会的各项义工服侍
我们约定每月九日,为了受逼迫的中国教会,同心合意、禁食祷告:
火炼信心,历久弥坚;震动神州,纠正罪愆;复兴教会,救恩彰显!
倡议发起人:
锡安教会 龙降恩牧师
北美浸信会信友堂 洪予健牧师
丰收华夏基督教会 张伯笠牧师
秋雨圣约教会/秋雨圣工 陈彪牧师
尼哥底母真理追寻会 张坦弟兄
承光学会 傅凯彬牧师
芝加哥新光基督教会 Joseph Jiang牧师
纽约晨光基督教会 郑乐国牧师
主后2026年3月9日
#锡安109教案 #FreeZionChurch #PrayForZionChurch
A Proposal to Designate January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day” and the 9th of Every Month as a “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China”
Dear brothers and sisters of all churches, may you have peace in Christ!
Over the past decade or so, the 9th—an otherwise ordinary date—has emerged as an extraordinary symbol. It points to a series of major persecution against the house churches in China: April 9, 2011—the Beijing Shouwang Church case; December 9, 2015—the Guiyang Huoshi Church case; January 9, 2018—the Linfen Golden Lampstand Church case (in which the church building was demolished by explosives); September 9, 2018—the Beijing Zion Church case; December 9, 2018—the Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church case; and October 9, 2025—the China Zion Church case. In addition to these church-related incidents, another significant event occurring on the 9th was the “709 Crackdown” on human rights lawyers in China on July 9, 2015—an event that involved numerous Christian lawyers and was intertwined with multiple cases of religious persecution. Therefore, building upon the “Proposal for a December 9th Day of Prayer for Persecuted House Churches in China” (issued on December 9, 2023), this document puts forth a solemn proposal to designate January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day,” and the 9th of every month as a “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China.” The aim of this initiative is to further encourage people from all walks of life to pay close attention to the current state of religious freedom in China, and—more importantly—to further kindle fervent prayer among the global church on behalf of the persecuted churches in China.
I. Core Proposals
1. Proposal to Designate January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day”
October 27th is “International Religious Freedom Day,” a day intended to promote religious and belief freedom on a global scale and to draw attention to regions where religious freedom is restricted. China currently has no officially designated “Religious Freedom Day.” Although the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China stipulates that Chinese citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief,” in reality, numerous restrictions and controls are imposed upon religious faith. In particular, there has been a long-standing campaign of suppression and persecution directed at religious groups not officially recognized by the state—including “house churches.” Therefore, we propose designating January 9th as “China Religious Freedom Day,” effective starting January 9, 2026. This initiative aims to foster tangible improvements in, and ensure the full protection of, religious freedom within China.
2. Proposal to Designate the 9th of Every Month as a “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China”
Since the “October 9th” Zion Church case in 2025, Zion Church has garnered widespread attention from the international community and received intercessory support from churches around the globe. Many brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide—embracing the spirit of “suffering together” (1 Corinthians 12:26)—have united in prayer for the persecuted Zion Church, and indeed for the broader Church in China. Inspired by the work of the Holy Spirit, we propose establishing the 9th of every month as a standing “Day of Fasting and Prayer for Persecuted Churches in China.” On the 9th of each month, we encourage brothers and sisters to observe a full-day fast—guided by the leading of the Holy Spirit and their own physical health—thereby devoting themselves wholeheartedly to both personal and corporate prayer on behalf of the persecuted Church in China. We look forward to seeing this monthly prayer movement coordinate, connect, and work in complementarity with existing prayer ministries—such as the “International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in China” (IDOP China), the “5:00 PM in China” Kingdom Prayer Gathering initiated by Early Rain Covenant Church, and the “Outdoor Morning Prayer Meeting” hosted by the North American Baptist Church of the Faithful—so that, together, we may build a spiritual “wall of prayer.”
II. Intercessory Prayer Suggestions
1. Standing Prayer Points:
(1) Pray for the persecuted Church in China, for individual Christians, and for their families.
In Chinese, the number “nine” (九jiǔ) is homophonous with the word for “long-lasting” or “how long” (久jiǔ). Thus, on the 9th of every month, we raise our voices in unison to cry out: “O Lord, how long must we wait? Until when will You delay in avenging Your people who are being mistreated and persecuted?” (Psalm 13:1; Revelation 6:10). We pray, O Lord, that in accordance with Your perfect and good will, and at Your appointed time, You would release Your servants—both men and women—who are currently bound and imprisoned. May Your enduring grace and peace ever abide with those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness, as well as with their families; may You preserve and strengthen Your children—both those within high walls and those outside them—enabling them all to live out the indomitable freedom found in Christ. May the Lord show mercy and offer comfort to families that have been shaken and distressed—especially the women and children among them—personally acting as their Protector, Vindicator, and Provider; and, through the Church—the household of God—may You support them in all their needs: spiritual, financial, legal, and emotional.
(2) A Prayer for Religious Freedom, Respect for Human Rights, and the Rule of Law in China
Since the number “nine” (九jiǔ) sounds like “to correct” (纠jiū), we humbly intercede on the ninth day of every month: O Lord, may You “look upon this sinful kingdom” (Amos 9:8) and correct and blot out our sins and transgressions (Acts 3:19)—specifically, the hostility shown across the land of China toward the true God, and the persecution inflicted by those in authority in this land against the people who belong to God. We pray, O Lord, that You would correct and revoke all “unlawful laws” that violate China's Constitution, international norms, and divine law—including subsidiary regulations such as the new “Regulations on Religious Affairs” and the “Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services”—thereby guaranteeing religious freedom for all Chinese citizens, including the liberty to express and practice the Christian faith in both physical and cyberspace. We pray that You would bless and transform China and those in authority over it, that they may revere Heaven and love their neighbors, punish evil and promote good, uphold justice in the application of the law, and serve the best interests of both the nation and its people.
(3) A Prayer that God Would Refine and Revive the Church—in China and Globally—Through Persecution
Since the number “nine” (九jiǔ) also sounds like “salvation” (救jiù), we fervently pray on the ninth day of every month: O Lord, may You “bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47). We pray, O Lord, not merely that You would deliver the Church to triumph over persecution and tribulation, but rather that—as the Church walks the path of the Cross—the Gospel of Christ may reach even more souls, thereby fulfilling God's redemptive plan. O Lord, from the very inception of the New Testament Church, throughout the two-thousand-year history of the universal Church, and indeed within the history of the house churches in China, You have consistently utilized persecution and tribulation to refine and revive Your Church. We pray that the Lord will continue to raise up the Chinese church—pressing forward courageously amidst persecution—to willingly serve as instruments in God's hands, inspiring the global church to unite in heart to advance the Gospel, collaborate in expanding God's Kingdom, and share together in the mission of evangelism.
2. Specific Prayer Requests:
In addition to the standing prayer requests mentioned above, the prayer meeting held on the 9th of each month may incorporate specific prayer requests gathered according to the circumstances of that particular month. For example: The prayer meeting on December 9, 2025, will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the “Living Stone Church Case” in Guiyang and the 7th anniversary of the “Early Rain Covenant Church Case” in Chengdu; it will also feature a time of fasting and prayer specifically for Pastor Jin Mingri and other detained pastors and co-workers from Zion Church, praying that they may be granted access to and permission to read the Bible while held in the Beihai Detention Center.
III. Suggestions for Participation
1. Participate in the joint signing initiative on behalf of a church or organization, thereby becoming a co-initiator of this campaign.
Please send your signing request via email to: [email protected]
Please clearly state the name of your church or organization, as well as the name of the person in charge.
2. Volunteer—on behalf of a church or organization—to take responsibility for organizing and preparing the prayer meeting held on the 9th of a specific month.
For example: Zion Church and its affiliated Holy Word Alliance might volunteer to take charge of the prayer meeting held on October 9th each year;
Early Rain Covenant Church or Living Stone Church might volunteer to take charge of the prayer meeting held on December 9th each year.
3. Participate as an individual or a team in the activities and ministry service associated with the monthly prayer meetings held on the 9th.
Brothers and sisters from all churches are warmly invited to make a commitment to participate in the fasting and prayer meetings held on the 9th of every month.
Individual Christians and teams are encouraged to volunteer their services in various capacities during the monthly prayer meetings held on the 9th.
We hereby pledge to gather on the 9th (九jiǔ) of every month—united in heart and mind—to fast and pray on behalf of the persecuted church in China:
May our faith, refined by fire, grow ever stronger even over long time (久jiǔ);
May God’s power shake the land of China and correct (纠jiū) its transgressions;
May the Church be revived, and God’s salvation (救jiù) be made manifest!
Initiators (the list below will grow longer over time):
Rev. Sean Long, Zion Church / Zion Global Ministry
Rev. Hong Yujian, Faith Chinese Baptist Church (Vancouver)
Rev. Zhang Boli, Harvest Chinese Christian Church (Los Angeles)
Rev. Chen Biao, Early Rain Covenant Church / Early Rain Ministries
Brother Zhang Tan, Nicodemus Truth-Seeking Association (Australia)
Rev. Fu Kaibin, Inherit Institute (Dallas)
Rev. Joseph Jiang, New Light Christian Church (Chicago)
Rev. Zheng Leguo, Morning Light Christian Church (New York)
March 9, 2026
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MESSAGE
I wholeheartedly endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo, during his Palm Sunday Mass. His call for the laying down of arms and the renunciation of violence resonated profoundly with me, as it speaks to the very essence of what all major religions teach.
Indeed, whether we look to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism or any of the world's great spiritual traditions, the message is fundamentally the same: love, compassion, tolerance, and self-discipline. Violence finds no true home in any of these teachings. History has shown us time and again that violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace.
An enduring resolution to conflict, including the ones we see in the Middle East or between Russia and Ukraine, must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect — approached with the understanding that, at the deepest level, we are all brothers and sisters.
I urge for and pray that the violence and conflicts may soon come to an end.
DALAI LAMA
31 March 2026