Christianity Today reports – Prayer vigils are being held for those involved in the pro-democracy demonstrations currently gripping Hong Kong.
Churches throughout the city are urging their congregations to uphold Hong Kong in prayer as the protests are now well into their third day.
Tens of thousands of people have flooded the streets in protest against the Chinese government’s insistence on screening political candidates to ensure their allegiance to the CCP.
It was hoped that open elections would be held in 2017, but a motion ruling against this was passed in August.
Many locals believe that this contradicts Beijing’s promise to one day allow Hong Kong “universal suffrage”.
The protest movement has been largely peaceful, though there have been some small clashes with police who responded on Sunday with tear gas, pepper spray and riot gear in an attempt to dispel the demonstrators.
Since then, however, those on the ground say that riot police have withdrawn and the protest has continued without violence.
Among the leaders of the movement, under the banner ‘Occupy Central with Love and Peace’, are a number of Christians, including former Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Baptist minister Rev Chu Yiu-ming.
Churches in the region are now also responding to the movement in prayer.
The Vine, an international church located in Wan Chai district just a few blocks from the protests, has opened itself up for 48 hours as a place of prayer and intercession, as well as refuge, rest and support for those involved.
A statement from senior pastor Andrew Gardener released yesterday said: “The last twenty four hours in Hong Kong has seen some scenes that we thought we would never see in our city. No doubt you have all been following what has been unfolding on our streets. We have seen some unprecedented social action with calls for more to come.
“It is times like these when we believe the church has an essential role to play in society,” he continued.
Gardener, who has lived in Hong Kong for 28 years, says it’s the first time he’s seen protests in the city of this scale.
Source : Christianity Today