House Church Leaders Arrested; One Dies in Custody

On April 26, Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers arrested Gu Xianggao (28), a teacher in a house church movement known as "Three Grades Servants," in Harbin City in Heilongjiang province, China. The next day, his parents were informed that he had died. According to a letter from his sister to China Aid, a PSB officer told the family that Gu had been a suspect in a murder and died while under interrogation. However, they were unwilling to say who he was accused of murdering or give any details. The officers claimed that Gu had died of a stroke or heart attack, despite being in good health. When the parents confronted the PSB, demanding to see the body and receive a proper explanation of what happened, they were paid 230,000 RMB ($38,000 Cdn.) and ordered to tell no one. They were briefly shown his face, which had obvious bruising around the eyes. They were then dragged from the room and the body was taken to be cremated. The PSB consistently refused to give them documentation explaining the reasons for the large financial payment.

Chinese "Re-Education Through Labour" Camp

On May 9, another church leader, Zhao Wenquan (60), was arrested in Hegou Town, Anhui Province in east-central China. According to a May 25 news release from China Aid, more than four thousand Christians had gathered in the village for a special harvest festival. Since the town's church normally has less than three hundred people, the gathering attracted the attention of the local PSB who raided their meeting. Zhao was arrested when the celebration ended. About a dozen other leaders escaped and are presently in hiding. Zhao was charged with "disturbing the social order" and organizing an "illegal religious gathering." If sentenced, he could face three years of "re-education through labour."

On May 9, another church leader, Zhao Wenquan (60), was arrested in Hegou Town, Anhui Province in east-central China. According to a May 25 news release from China Aid, more than four thousand Christians had gathered in the village for a special harvest festival. Since the town's church normally has less than three hundred people, the gathering attracted the attention of the local PSB who raided their meeting. Zhao was arrested when the celebration ended. About a dozen other leaders escaped and are presently in hiding. Zhao was charged with "disturbing the social order" and organizing an "illegal religious gathering." If sentenced, he could face three years of "re-education through labour."

Pray for the family of Gu Xianggao, as they deal with this terrible loss. Pray that Zhao Wenquan will be released and not sent to a labour camp. Pray for spiritual strength and protection for each of the church leaders in China, facing the fear of arrest, torture, prison or death.

For more information on persecution facing the Church in China, click here.