Bob Fu reaches out to his fellow countrymen, calling for reconciliation and the defense of religious freedom in China.
October 10, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC–Bob Fu joined the voices of other Chinese expatriates on Thursday, October 8, to reunite with fellow Chinese freedom advocates at the Inter-Ethnic and Inter-Religious Conference in Washington DC, and to promote healing and reconciliation at the Heritage Foundation’s Panel on Resolving Ethnic and Religious Tensions, held in Washington DC.
Bob shared his personal testimony of one time fearing other Chinese ethnic and religious groups, and how the transformative power of faith broke down his ethnic prejudices to enable him to work with members of other faith traditions who have also experienced persecution. He humbly admitted that he had once considered Uyghur Muslims, members of the Falun Gong, and other minority faiths to be “poison.” After spending time with advocates from these faiths in the United States, he completely rejected these prejudices, and learned to appreciate the strength of taking action, even from different faith perspectives, to reach a common goal.
In his speech to fellow Chinese at the Inter-ethnic/ Inter-Religious Conference, Bob shared his passion for political advocacy for religious freedom in China:
“I left China over 12 years ago after my wife and I had been imprisoned because of our leadership of a house church and Bible school. In both our release from jail and in our last-minute acceptance by the U.S. as refugees – right before the change-over of Hong Kong – I saw the positive effects of political advocacy. Political advocacy was an effective element among other important factors – for example, prayer, which is the starting point, actually.” He urged the Chinese expatriates to continue their efforts to promote “better policies, statements and resolutions which uphold the values of life and justice” in the United States and abroad.
Read the Bob Fu’s Full Speech at the Inter-Ethnic/ Inter-Religious Conference in Washington DC.
In the afternoon at the panel hosted by the Heritage Foundation, he recalled the spirit of his earlier speech, reprising the need to balance the “healthy tension” of state power and freedom, and to encourage the protection of diverse religious faith traditions in China. “I firmly believe that citizens of any country, and living in any area, have the clear responsibility to work for this healthy tension – for the sake of freedom, for the sake of the next generation.”
He acknowledged human rights to be “painful work” and adhered to truth as the center of faith and freedom. “Right words are strong – even ultimately stronger than the force of cruel repression. We may sometimes find that truth also hurts us … it hurts as it cuts down the walls we create to protect our image, our comfort, our ego, our loyalties, our assumptions about what we could do or what mankind is.”
Read Bob Fu’s full Speech at the Heritage Foundation.
In the end, the truth, as painful as it is, becomes the weapon against persecution, and the incentive to pursue religious freedom for all. Mr. Fu expressed his deep regrets for the pain caused by persecution: “I wish there were not these reports of religious persecution to receive and send out, which we do almost every day – about the raids and beatings. But these are sent out. The exposure is its own prod toward justice, the accountability to laws which are higher than the assumed authority of powerful and greedy men.”
Chinese expatriates who love their fellow countrymen continue to speak up on behalf of the persecuted believers in China, but the transformation will come from within. With the support of the international community and the deep conviction of the faithful, Bob Fu believes China will see a better day, one where religious freedom is guaranteed not just for Christians, but for all.
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