An Introduction to the Open Letter of Kwong Keung Lai

In Titus Chu's letter of July 22, 2006, he condemned the co-workers in the Lord's recovery and Living Stream Ministry (LSM) for their response to the arrest of Brother Kwong Keung Lai (Li Guangqiang) from Hong Kong. Brother Lai was arrested in 2001 by Chinese authorities while attempting to transport copies of the Recovery Version of the New Testament into mainland China. The same incident has been the basis of attacks on LSM and the co-workers by others as well. Because of the public nature of that criticism, we have asked for and received permission to post Brother Lai's own response to Titus' letter. This response corrects many errors of fact as well as the false innuendos in those writings as they pertain to LSM and the co-workers. Nearly every statement in them is false:

• The basic premise of both Titus Chu's letter and the "Concerned Brothers" article is false. The attempt to take Recovery Versions into China was neither conceived nor carried out by LSM, the Taiwan Gospel Bookroom, or the church in Hong Kong.
• The implication that LSM, the Taiwan Gospel Bookroom, Andrew Yu, the church in Hong Kong, or the churches in Taiwan were participants in attempts to bring Recovery Versions of the New Testament into China is likewise false. LSM sold the Bibles to Brother Lai as they would to anyone. The entire endeavor was a matter carried out by individuals.
• Titus Chu's letter falsely asserts that the "Shouters" are associated with Living Stream Ministry and Witness Lee. In perpetuating this misunderstanding, Titus Chu performs a disservice to the saints and churches in China and to Brother Lee's ministry.
• The accusation that LSM abandoned Brother Lai is false. LSM's actions and responses to inquiries were consistently in his best interest. That includes the truthful statement that LSM had "no official connection" with him.
• The dissenting writings uncritically cite news accounts as true and accurate. This is a mistake. While it is true that news reports were instrumental in generating concern in Brother Lai's case—concerns that led world leaders to appeal to China for his release—there were many inaccuracies in those reports, inaccuracies that could have been easily corrected had Titus or the authors of the other articles pursued appropriate fellowship.
• All of the conjectures in these writings regarding the motives of LSM in their actions related to Brother Lai's incarceration in China are unfounded. There is an obvious bitterness behind the authors' reckless speculations in the absence of direct knowledge.

Living Stream Ministry continues its efforts:

• To clear up any misunderstandings with the Chinese government in order to secure greater freedom for the local churches as well as all believers throughout China;
• To correct the mistaken association of the "Shouters," which have been categorized as a cult in China, with both the local churches and the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee; and
• To seek to supply the believers everywhere with the riches of the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.

Read the Open Letter here: La respuesta del hermano Kwong Keung Lai a la carta de Titus Chu