June 3, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ANS) -- Twenty years after the massacre at Tiananmen Square, Chinese Christian leaders invite the international community to join them in a solemn assembly, to pray and to usher in a new day of hope and justice for China.
The solemn assembly will be held in Washington, DC on June 4, 2009 at the National Presbyterian Church from 7-9 p.m.
"Prayer transcends history, politics and nationalities. On the day of the 20th anniversary of the June 4th Massacre, this historic international prayer gathering calls for repentance for apathy and silence before injustice, for reconciliation and re-formation for a higher calling," said Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid and a former student leader in the Tiananmen Square movement, in a media release.
The news release says that at the June 4 assembly, leaders will unite to re-affirm their written manifesto, which to date has been signed by 226 Chinese Christian leaders.
The manifesto calls for "forgiveness, repentance, truth, justice and reconciliation" regarding the Tiananmen Square massacre of June 4, 1989.
ChinaAid says the estimated number of students killed in the tragedy was up to 3,000 with more than 10,000 later executed by the government.
According to the news release, the majority of the signatories of the manifesto were directly involved with the students' movement, and suffered severe repercussions at the hands of authorities.
ChinaAid said: "In the aftermath of the massacre, the failure of the movement and in their search for truth and hope, these leaders found salvation and restoration in Jesus Christ. At the June 4 gathering, Chinese leaders will unite under Jesus Christ to be re-commissioned by Him, and to align with His heart and purposes over their nation."
Bob Fu stated: "China is at a crossroad. We pray in unity that the international community will choose to stand in true solidarity with China's freedom pursuers without any wavering so that a God-fearing, human rights and dignity-respecting new China will emerge as a blessing to the whole world in the 21st century."
Download information and directions for the June 4, 2009 solemn assembly in English and Chinese.
Click here to read the manifesto signed by Chinese leaders, entitled "Declaration of Chinese Christians on the 20th Anniversary of the June 4 Incident."
Copyright 2009 ASSIST News Service. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
