10/31/02________________________________________________________

Dear Monks,
Here is an e-mail I received from one of our friends in China.  I am
sending it on to you in hopes that it may encourage you.  If you
choose to use it on your website, I am trusting that you will not use
****'s  name.  It is typical of most e-mails I receive from China, although this one was sent from the States.  The e-mails from believers in China use code words.
Also of interest, a gathering of more then 10 people without a permit is illegal.  Or so I have been told.
Yours truly,                                                                                                     ****
                                                                                                               Greetings to you all!  I just returned from China & Thailand where
everything is going very well and we are really excited at what God is doing!

I want to update you about what is going on in Beijing, some of you may have heard about the recent problem we had there?  The last week in September we had a visiting evangelist come from the south of China.  He taught for 4 days in one of our groups, the one that meets in the house of ****.  On the last day of his time there, Sunday morning, four men from the PSB (Public Security Bureau) came to the apartment.  Two were plain clothes and two were uniformed police and they took the whole church, about 35 people away in vans!  To the headquarters!

It was pretty scary for everyone!  After a few hours they were all released.  ****  was kept the longest, but was released with a warning.  This was a major miracle! first because they did not search the apartment!  We had tons of literature that we have produced and are distributing, plus many bibles and hymnals and other prohibited things.  And also because while they were being questioned they asked almost everyone for identity cards.  Everyone but the visiting evangelist who didn't have one!!!  He would have been in a serious problem had they found out who he was!!!  So the only thing we lose is the meeting place.

We will have to find another place to hold church.  Please pray for this as it is pretty difficult and expensive.  We have to keep the old place because we have a lease, but can't meet there, plus find a new place.  But do you know what?  God is good!!!  He will provide!!!  The group is such a blessing.  They are an inspiration to see, how they risk everything just to go to church.  But in their time of need God provided a way out for them!!!                                                                                                   Blessings to you all!!!                                                                              **** <><

10/31/02________________________________________________________

I've long believed in the simplicity and love as illustrated by St. Francis.  I recently saw the Zeffirelli film, Brother Son, Sister Moon, and actually found your incredibly powerful site whilst researching this and trying to find a soundtrack for that movie.  I can't seem to find a soundtrack on the film anywhere, but thought I'd ask you if you have any ideas?  The St. Francis prayer was put to music in that film by the singer Donovan and I found it so inspired...I'm a cancer patient and I love listening to songs and music in praise and prayer.  I'd really like to find a copy of the film soundtrack because I think it's especially uplifting.  Thank you for any help you might be able to provide me with.  Any ideas?                      Cathryn J.    

Note from The Prayer Foundation ™: We agree with you about finding the music from Zefirelli's Brother Son, Sister Moon to be inspiring and uplifting.  The ancient melodies arranged by singer/songwriter Donovan were researched for the movie by Alfredo Bianchini.  The lyrics were composed by Donovan (Leitch) and Diana Hofford, including the title song, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon."  The St. Francis prayer, Canticle of Brother Sun (originally known as The Canticle of the Creatures), was not used in that song.  Unfortunately, it was never released as a soundtrack.  A Soundtrack containing only the symphonic compositions in the movie (without Donovan and his beautiful singing) was released in Europe.                                                                        

10/30/02________________________________________________________

Monk William Back From China!

Dear Brothers, and Sisters,
I am back from China. The Church of God is alive and well in China!
They are the fastest growing Church in the world!  And they are growing
without the help of the western world!
Yours in Christ,
Monk William (California)

(Monk William's "full report" is on our page: Monk William In China).

10/7/02________________________________________________________

Dear Rev. Preston,
My son Bill answered your recent e-mail about having a film on St. Columba.
As he indicated we have talked about this for years with our good friend
Norman Stone, a Director living in Scotland.
I have been overseas but Bill sent me a copy of your email and I was
fascinated to learn about your community and would love to know more about your order, its discipline, where you are located, when founded, etc.
Thanks for anything you may provide.
Ken Curtis (Worcester, Pennsylvania)                                                      President, Gateway Films/Vision Video;                                             Christian History Institute

Note from The Prayer Foundation ™: Ken Curtis is the Founder and President of Gateway Films/Vision Video, a Christian Film Distribution and Christian Filmmaking Ministry.  Their first film was the classic: "The Cross and the Switchblade." He is also the Founder of The Christian History Institute.

Our answer to this letter has been made into our page: Tour Our Web Site!

It was so interesting to learn of your community and the details of your
devotion to the Lord.
We find ourselves thrust into the middle of daily battle in the media worlds of Christian communication which only causes us to pause to thank God from time to time for those he has raised up to keep the  incense of prayer stoked and burning before his presence continually.
So as and when our little ministries should ever come to your mind we would be so grateful if you would intercede before the Lord on our behalf.  We need wisdom day by day, courage to live by the wisdom granted, and vision to pick the strategic entry points where our ministry will make a difference in a media world where we realize that we are a mere drop in the bucket (but if it's the right drop it can permeate, can't it?).
Again, we rejoice to know you are there.
Your brother in Christ,                                                                                 Ken Curtis (Worcester, Pennsylvania)                                                   President, Gateway Films/Vision Video;                                             Christian History Institute

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