Prominent Church Leader Arrested

15 December 2004

^{Zhang Rongliang
Photo from}^VOM-USA

According to China Aid, a prominent house church leader in China, Zhang Rongliang, was arrested on December 1 at his home in Xuzhai village in Henan Province. His wife and children were able to escape and are presently in hiding. Their apartment has been searched, with authorities confiscating DVDs, photos and other materials that would establish any form of proof that Zhang had relationships with foreign organizations. According to a reliable source, homes throughout the village were searched, presumably looking for Zhang's wife and children.

Zhang is believed to be held in custody in the Zheng Zhou area of Henan Province. He is the leader of the China for Christ Church, a network of house churches estimated to have more than ten million members. Zhang is well known internationally, being featured in the book, "Jesus in Beijing," as well as many other books and articles. He previously served twelve years in prison for his faith and was last released in August 1999.

According to Bob Fu from China Aid, Pastor Zhang’s health is questionable as he suffers from serious diabetes. It is feared that Pastor Zhang may not be able to withstand the torture and mistreatment generally associated with the imprisonment of church leaders.

China Aid reports that Gao Shunping, who assisted Pastor Zhang in getting a travel ID, has also disappeared and at least three house churches in the Fangcheng area have been raided in the past two weeks.

We encourage Christians throughout the world to protest this latest action against freedom of religion in China. Contact information for Chinese embassies is available through our website (click here). The book, "Jesus in Beijing," is available through VOM's online catalog.

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

China

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.