Then she went to bed herself. The following morning, the woman was sitting up in her bed, alive and healthy. Over 20 Protestant Christians are currently in jail for such crimes as 'illegal prayer' or 'resisting state authority', the official expression for their being present often enough when police violently disbanded prayer meetings. Nevertheless, according to local church leaders, the Protestant minority has grown five-fold since the end of the war, from around 150,000 in 1975 to 800,000 now. The 3,500 underground churches form the majority, meeting in houses or illegal chapels.
Many Protestants are under extreme pressure to recant their faith.
The few that gave in to the pressure were forced to drink the blood of animals sacrificed in traditional religious ceremonies. The Communists look at Eastern Europe, and recognise the role played by the church in the fall of Communism there. It started with quite an explosion, when pastor John Kilpatrick challenged the Christians 'to shake of the silence, and start praying for each other and prophesying'. The focus will no longer be on one man, and the services will no longer be centered on a sermon, but on that which the Holy Spirit is doing. Yes, we will continue to place value on people coming to Christ, but be particularly careful to do that which the Holy Spirit desires.