China,North Korea and the upcoming Olympics.

We are now entering the third week of 2008,the holiday decorations are put away and we are done dating everything 2007.Soon winter will be spring,and then summer.And the biggest thing on the world calander this summer is the upcoming Olympics in China.China will be celebrating it's entry onto the world stage as a power player in social and economic matters.They will be trying to represent themselves to the world as a modern and civilized.Yet all the while they continue to treat their own citizens,and North Korean refugees in a most barbaric manner.In advance of the upcoming Olympics China is stepping up persecution of it's own christian population,Jailing church leaders,confiscating christian literature,and expeling foreign nationals that they suspect of evangelistic activities.All the while Chinas constitution actually allows freedom of religion.Another troubling practice of the Chinese government is the illegal forced repatriation of North Koreans.China performs these repatriations contrary to international law.These refugees have automatic citizenship waiting for them in South Korea,and actually have a place waiting for them here in America due to their status as religous refugees.Yet China continues to send these poor people back,knowing the fate that awaits them.They are imprisoned,tortured,but most are killed,because the most common penalty for leaving North Korea is death.We can't let China get away putting one face on for the world and another for their own religous minorities and refugees.The following account is an exerpt from a recent news alert from Open Doors USA ..>..> ..>

A Story of a Young Martyr
Life is very difficult for many North Korean children. Only a few children manage to flee from North Korea by crossing the border into China. Brother Simon, who heads the work of Open Doors in North Korea, tells the following story of an eleven year old boy named Jong Cheol (pseudonym).

Jong-Cheol's father died when Jong Cheol was still young. Jong Cheol was brought up by his mother and grandmother, who were both Christians. When he was still small, Jong Cheol's grandmother was already telling him Bible stories. Like many other children, he roamed around the country looking for food. One day, he managed to flee across the border into China- it was easier at that time than it is now.

In China, he was picked up by a Chinese missionary. Through many conversations, Jong Cheol discovered who Jesus Christ was, and he came to believe in God. He also suddenly realized that his mother and grandmother had already been Christians.

In China, he went begging for money every day outside a hotel in order to get some money. In this hotel, there were many South Koreans. These South Koreans felt sorry for him and gave him money. Jong Cheol sent a large part of that money through the underground network to his mother and grandmother. In this way, he provided for them.

One day, together with a group of other children, he was caught. The Chinese police arrested them and they were immediately sent back to North Korea. There the children were rigorously interrogated on a daily basis. They were probably beaten, too. One of the children snapped and betrayed the fact that Jong Cheol had become a Christian. For this reason, the North Koreans killed Jong Cheol.

What really touches me is that not for a moment did Jong Cheol deny Christ. He could have saved his life, but he did not do so. Jong Cheol is now in heaven.

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Please contact your congressman,senator or even your state representative.China will react to world and economic pressure as far as their treatment of their citizens and refugees are concerned,but only if their behavior continues to be exposed.You can make a difference, please don't ignore these christians or their plight.