#prayeralert: Hong Kong protestsWendy Porterfield - 30 Sep 2014

Unprecedented protests and an equally unusual police response are in full swing in Hong Kong this week.

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong students and citizens are acting together in civil disobedience, protesting an August decision from the Beijing government that limits Hong Kong residents’ power in electing their chief executive in the coming 2017 elections.

Many Hong Kong residents fear this as a sign that their current freedom as an SAR (Special Administrative Region) of China, as well as their promised democratic voting rights, will be co-opted by the Beijing central government. 

Police responded quickly and dramatically to these protests this last weekend, using pepper spray and tear gas and carrying guns (likely filled with rubber bullets) to disperse the crowds. Riot police have since been removed, but key parts of the city are still being blocked by protesters and the situation could well escalate tonight and tomorrow, during the Chinese National Day holiday.

Hong Kong public opinion is split concerning these issues, and we must remember as citizens of the Kingdom of God that our hope is in Jesus and not in a city, nation, form of government or ruler. 

Let’s pray together for God’s kingdom to come in Hong Kong:

• Pray for peace between protesters & police and between Hong Kong & Mainland Chinese. Ultimately, only God can bring true justice, righteousness, and peace to Hong Kong.
• Pray that the church of Hong Kong would respond firstly with prayer and secondly through practical love and service toward those impacted by the protests.
• Pray for the HK people & leaders to encounter Jesus, and that through trust in Him, their hearts would be free of fear.

All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the images 'Hong Kong' by Gabriel and 'Hong Kong Protests' by Pasu Au Yeung