With the 2008 Olympics beginning at this time next year, Chinese officials are rapidly preparing for the events. During the bidding process for the Summer Games more than six years ago China promised to improve human rights and grant more freedom to the press in their communist country. But many throughout the world are chiding China for not upholding their promises. Chinese Christians are still being greatly persecuted for their faith. In response to the persecution Open Doors ministry, which focuses on prayer for the persecuted church, is calling for believers to pray for religious freedom in China. Every day until the Aug. 8 opening ceremonies, the prayer campaign called One Minute/One Year/One Country is encouraging believers to pray for one minute, preferably at 8 p.m. Beijing time (8 a.m. in New York). “The Beijing Olympics presents an awesome opportunity for believers in the West to unite in prayer … not only for our fellow Christians but for the communist government of China to grant religious freedom to all worshipers, especially house-church members,” said Carl Moeller, the Open Door’s president and CEO. Moeller directs people who want to pray to register on their Web site www.opendoorsusa.org. Registrants will receive a monthly prayer e-mail calendar and a daily e-mail brief with updated information on China and specific prayer requests. “Together we can make a difference,” Moeller said. “And prayer is the No. 1 way.”
