Prayer is Life

ChinaSource Team • March 18, 2026

Many multicolored Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling of an outdoor space.
Photo by Hat Trick on Unsplash. Licensed for use by ChinaSource.

Never an Interruption

In his teachings on prayer, Watchman Nee emphasized that prayer should be an intimate, constant fellowship in the Spirit, turning our daily duties into worship. He said, “Prayer is never an interruption. Prayer is life.”

The apostle Paul reinforced this with his call to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”(Philippians 4:6). 

J. Edwin Orr, a leader in the mid-to late twentieth century of prayer-driven revival and evangelical unity, and an authority on revival history, wrote, “History is silent about revivals that did not begin with prayer…No great spiritual awakening has begun anywhere in the world apart from unified prayer.”

This is why we see Paul place prayer and worship at the top of the priority list in his instructions to Timothy, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1).

Priority 1: Activating Prayer

Building a global network of informed intercessors lifting up China, the diaspora, and emerging leaders.

Thankfully, some of the ministries ChinaSource is directly involved with in Asia focus on spiritual formation; emphasizing a variety of prayer disciplines. This is the first priority of our strategic plan and vision campaign. ChinaSource is helping to achieve this by creating, introducing, and/or connecting multiple prayer networks and platforms.

Fifty-nine percent of ChinaSource friends surveyed reported praying for people and situations described in ChinaSource content! We are thankful to God that our resources are being used to focus on informed and discerning intercessory support of God’s work in and through Chinese Christ followers. The new ChinaSource website is enhancing our capacity to be part of God’s vast prayer movement.

A new Prayer resources page has been launched on the ChinaSource website and new prayer resources are being added monthly. Now that God has led us to become a bilingual ministry, prayers are being offered and multiplied at a much greater rate across the globe.

Amazingly, some of the ministries ChinaSource is directly involved with in Asia are in the areas of spiritual formation, emphasizing a variety of prayer disciplines. We are grateful to be part of a growing number of prayer networks in the diaspora as well.

In his February 23 ChinaSource article, Activating Prayer for China: Lifting China in Love and Faith, John Swem wrote: 

“Currently, the church in China is undergoing a time of severe testing unlike any seen since the Reform and Opening Era was launched. Our brothers and sisters in China will be much encouraged by our prayers. We could not be more excited about the priority given by ChinaSource to Activating Prayer in this campaign. We have been blessed to be one of ChinaSource’s many partners in providing prayer resources in English and Chinese via the web page and social media. We join in longing for the outcome of a ‘global movement of intercessors lifting up China with love and faith.’ Let us stand with believers in China through faithful, daily intercession—trusting that God works powerfully through prayer offered in love and perseverance.”

A Powerful Legacy

Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing.”  

Martin Luther said, “Pray and let God worry.” 

Corrie ten Boom asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” 

John Wesley said, “God does nothing but in response to prayer.” 

Hudson Taylor said, “When we work, we work; when we pray, God works.” 

Madame Guyon wrote, “Prayer is nothing more than turning our heart toward God and receiving in turn His love.”

John Sung said, “Faith is watching God work while you are on your knees.” 

We kneel and pray on solid ground, on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and the legacy of those who have walked with him before us.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon preached that prayer “is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, and honor of the Christian.” 

Please join us in asking God that ChinaSource will be a powerful platform and vessel for worship and prayer with, and for, our Chinese brothers and sisters in the Mainland and across the globe.

Kerry Schottelkorb
President

Ways to Pray

Praise

  • Praise the Lord that the majority of our readers pray for people and situations described in ChinaSource content.

Pray

  • Please pray that God would give wisdom and discernment to the leaders of Christian organizations in the Middle East, so they may know when to ask their coworkers to remain and when to evacuate. Please see A Call to Prayer as War Clouds Gather over the Middle East by Jeanne Wu, March 2, 2026.
  • Please pray for kingdom heart conversations between Christ followers in the Mainland and like-hearted friends around the world to take place, despite restrictions. Please see A Statue That Connected Hearts by Andy Pearce, March 3, 2026.
  • Please pray that “ChinaSource will continue to play a critical role in facilitating conversations and synergy between the Chinese church—particularly its future intellectual leaders—and the global church in the decades to come.” Please see A Generational Shift in Chinese Church Leadership by Kevin Xiyi Yao, March 16, 2026.

News and Notes

In-Person Event

CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA: BEYOND THE HEADLINES 

In this lecture, Joann Pittman will provide an introduction to the complexity of the church in China, moving beyond common headlines and narratives to look at key issues and challenges that Christians face today. This will include a historical overview of Christianity in China, as well as gospel-centered stories of what God is doing among his people despite the challenging social and political environment. Finally, we will consider lessons that Christians in the West can learn from Christians in China. 

Location: Nazareth Hall, University of Northwestern – St. Paul
3003 Snelling Avenue North, Roseville, MN 55113

Date: March 26, 2026
Time: 6:15pm – light refreshments
             7:00pm –  Lecture & Q&A
(No live stream, but please register to receive a link to the recording)

Online Event

ONLINE BOOK CLUB (ERRC)

The next book for ERRC’s online book club discussion will be Other Rivers: A Chinese Education, by Peter Hessler. The discussion, led by Joann Pittman, will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 5:00 PM PDT / 6:00 PM MDT / 7:00 PM CDT / 8:00 PM EDT. Grab the book and start reading! And watch this space and the ERRC website for more details and a registration link. 

ChinaSource Team News

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Written, translated, or edited by members of the ChinaSource staff.