THE STORY...
I originally read this true story in book by Randy Alcorn and the idea demanded a painting
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This story begins just as the Communists were beginning to swallow up China, and Christians were coming under intense pressure to yield to the demands of the state. Churches were being closed and pastors slammed into jail. Watchman Nee was a widely-known and respected leader. He was asked to address them at a meeting.
Nee faced a dilemma. If he spoke at this meeting, he was certain to be arrested by government spies in the congregation before finishing his remarks. But if he didn’t speak, he would disappoint those who most needed his courage and wisdom.
His solution was to mime his sermon. Picking up a glass of water, he stared at it with fierce countenance then hurled it to the floor, smashing it. Then he surveyed the broken pieces of glass with a smug, arrogant expression and spent the next five minutes crunching the glass under his feet.
Suddenly his expression changed to horror. Stooping down, he began sweeping up the shards of glass. He put the pieces on the pulpit and tried to reassemble them into a drinking glass, but it was impossible. Finally in despair he threw the pieces into the air. They scattered everywhere, and Nee walked away, his sermon finished.
The spies didn’t know what to make of it, but the pastors understood completely and were greatly blessed.
Much later a pastor in Shanghai explained the parable. He said, “Nee himself represented the state, and the glass represented the church. He was telling us that the state would try to smash the church, and for awhile it would look as if they had succeeded. But soon the state would realize it had made a terrible mistake, because in smashing the church it had not destroyed it, but dispersed it.”
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As we are seeing many such “glasses” being brutally crushed all over the world, remember to stand with them in your prayers.
THE MISSION...
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this painting goes to support Iran Alive Ministries. Iran Alive is a church-planting ministry that uses modern technology to share the gospel, train believers, and fuel a discipleship-making movement. They broadcast life-giving, gospel-centric messages around the clock to some of the darkest regions of the world, spreading the love of Christ to oppressed Islamic-run Iran. Where it is illegal to gather for a Christian church service, they provide weekly church services, fellowship, and discipleship for the underground Church in Iran. And at the 4:12 Discipleship Training School, they provide opportunities for practical ministry while training believers for the work of ministry, and support God’s spiritual awakening movement in Iran.