Li and Zhang decided to take their children to a park near their home and then out for lunch on a street where Early Rain Covenant Church members used to come when they were still allowed to meet in their sanctuary. The former church building, said Li, now houses a pharmaceutical company. Officials followed the family the whole time they were at the park and eating, including when Li took the kids to the bathroom. He later discovered that many ERCC members were closely watched that same day. It seems that as Chinese officials are closely monitoring Li and his family, they are also renewing their surveillance efforts on other members of Early Rain Covenant Church.
Li and his family invited the two men who were following them to join them for lunch, but the men refused. During lunch, the family sang and prayed, and Li wrote that he was praying for the people who were persecuting them:
I also pray for the leaders and police officers of the Chengdu Public Security Bureau. I pray that through their contact with the church, they will come to know the God who made heaven and earth, who controls all things, and who shed his blood and laid down his life to redeem men from their sins. May God take a people for himself from these police officers and public officials who are persecuting his church.
Li also said he believes the authorities are reading the updates he posts online, and he told them, “Thank you, gentlemen, for the patience and restraint you’ve shown in accomplishing your tasks.”
The elder emphasized that it is a blessing to suffer for Jesus’ sake, and he ended his last update by quoting 1 Peter 3:13-16, which says,
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
“May the Lord help us treasure up these words in our hearts,” said Li, “for it is a great blessing to be united with Christ through suffering and to have the opportunity to experience a few difficulties for the sake of the faith…I am reminded that the Lord in heaven is watching over us all the time, and not even a sparrow will fall to the ground apart from his will. So I have peace like a river. Thank you, Lord!”
