once heard a story of a north American pastor who went to China on an underground trip to visit Christians who were involved with the "illegal” house church movement. This trip was the biggest eye-opener of his life and ministry. As he was getting ready to return, he asked one of the Chinese pastors who had spent many years in forced labor camps for refusing to stop preaching the Gospel, "How can the people in the U.S. pray for the persecuted church in China?” The answer hit him like a tsunami, "Isn’t it more like how we can pray for you?” The Chinese pastor asked. Then he added, "It seems that we have handled persecution better than you have handled prosperity.”
Now you may say that the Chinese pastor was being a bit arrogant. You may say that he was suggesting they didn’t need prayers. You may say that he was bunching everyone together in the same material-loving pot. As for me, I take that injunction humbly and try to learn what it means to me living in one of the wealthiest nations in the world. And I make mine the words of the prophet ”” consider your ways!
from: http://gospelfellowships.net/we-have-persecution-you-have-prosperity/