On August 17, China Aid, a partner ministry of VOMC, released a report documenting how, in recent weeks, there have been several attacks against house churches and Christian leaders in China that resulted in numerous arrests and torture.
During a house church worship service on August 7 in Xinjiang, more than twenty police vehicles surrounded the building. Police arrested approximately thirty Christians. More than ten women were stripped and paraded in front of the others. Those who refused to undress were severely beaten. Three church leaders: Mr. Song Jun, Mr. He Jiangwei and Ms. Liang Fanglan are still being held. Their whereabouts is presently unknown.
On the morning of August 11, a Sunday school teacher training class was raided in Xiping Xinjian Village, Xiaogang Town in Jiangxi Province. The class included thirty-five high-school and university students, along with some church leaders. As police took money from those present, some of the older women asked for receipts. The police responded by beating them. All those present were arrested though most released that evening. So far six have been sentenced for criminal detention and are waiting further prosecution. Those in detention are Ms. Xu Meifang, Ms. Zhao Jie, Ms. Zhang Shuming, Mr. Wu Jiewang, Mr. Zhu Guanzhu and Mr. Zhu Xiaochun. Another leader, Ms. Xu Chahua (42) was arrested four days later.
On August 15, five American church leaders and twenty-eight Chinese pastors were arrested. Four of the Americans and 27 pastors were meeting for fellowship in Luoyang City, Henan Province when they were arrested. Later that same day, another American and another Chinese Pastor, Wan Dagan, were arrested by plain-clothed agents while walking on the street in Yichuan City. All five Americans are believed to be from the same group. At last report, their detention location was unknown.
On August 10, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the arrest of more than forty believers in Hubei. China Aid reports that ten were released on August 13. Reports from those arrested recount terrible torture, including being burned with cigarettes and having wrists punctured with needles. One woman, Lian Tonggui, was partially stripped and was beaten with a bamboo stick until bloody. Two women remain in custody, Ms. Gu Junqing (38) and the host of the meeting, Ms. Ren Daoyun (60). Gu was recently transferred to the Tanghe County Detention Center, Henan Povince. Eyewitnesses report that Ren had been beaten repeatedly and had passed out several times during the torture.
Pray for physical and emotional strength for those suffering torture for their faith at this time. Pray for the release of those imprisoned. Pray for churches left without a pastor because of these recent arrests. Pray for delegates of the United States Commission on International Freedom who are visiting China from August 14-28. Pray that in their investigation, they will be able to go beyond the staged receptions and meetings organized by the Chinese government and document the true state of religious freedom in China.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, click here.
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