Christmas Services Raided

04 January 2006

PSB Officers As one hundred Christians gathered to worship on Christmas Eve in Korla City, Xinjiang, six police officers raided their meeting and forced them to stop the service. The officers directed the people to go to a government-sanctioned church if they wanted to meet for worship. One church leader has informed China Aid that they intend to continue meeting even though they will have to find another location.

Also in Xinjiang, in Ma Na Si County, two hundred police officers and other officials raided a house church meeting in a rented facility on Christmas Day. Two hundred and ten believers had gathered to worship when the police entered with a search warrant and declared that the meeting was an "illegal religious gathering." Twelve church leaders were arrested and property was confiscated, including two vehicles, a piano, a video camera, eighty Bibles, 230 towels and all the Christmas food. Seven of the leaders were later released. Those still in custody at last report were Pastor Guo Xianyao (54), Ms. Lu Jianzhen (47), Ms. Wu Haifang (28), Ms. Wang Ximei (54) and Ms. Zhou Bin (50). According to one witness, Pastor Guo was physical beaten by the police.

Pray that those who have been arrested will soon be released. Ask God to give them patience and quietness of heart as they face their accusers. Pray that Pastor Guo will be able to maintain a consistent walk with God as he recovers from the beatings. Ask God to protect His people from bitterness and that they will have an undying love for those who continue to violate their basic human rights.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, click here. Video reports on China are available on www.vomcanada.com

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.