More Christians Arrested

15 March 2006

China While raids on unregistered churches in China are frequent, the Chinese government's opposition to so-called "illegal evil cults" took a different turn on March 6 when an officially registered church was raided for allegedly providing "illegal evil cult" training. An eyewitness told China Aid sources that a Three-Self Patriotic Church in the village of Qiaozhuang, Henan Province was raided by Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers as fifty Christians were receiving Bible training from Pastor Liu Tuanjie. Pastor Liu is from Shangshui County in Henan Province. According to Chinese regulations, even within government churches, church leaders can only minister in their designated areas.

Pastor Liu and two other church leaders, Mr. Li Xueqin and Ms. Ma were taken into custody. Ma was released after her family paid a fine. As of March 10, Liu and Li remained in custody.

China Aid also reported on March 10 that a prominent Chinese musician, Su Wenxing, was recently placed under house arrest. Su is regarded as one of the best conductors in the country. In April 2004, a performance of Handel's Messiah by the China National Orchestra conducted by Su was abruptly cancelled without reason (for more information, click here). Su was reportedly told by guards at his door that he could face arrest if he continues his "provocative (evangelistic) activities" through music.

On March 6, two house church leaders were taken by PSB officers from their homes in Baihe County, Shanxi Province. Both Pastor Ruan Yonggui and Pastor Liu Fukao belong to a well-known House Church group called China Gospel Fellowship.

Pray that these arrested leaders will be released soon and that they will have opportunities to share Christ with others while in custody. Pray for renewed determination on the part of Chinese church leaders to continue to follow Christ regardless of the cost. Pray that the eyes of world leaders will be opened to the reality of China's restrictive anti-religious policies.

For more information on the persecution facing China's Christians, click here.

We encourage Canadians to write letters of protest and concern over these recent arrests to the Chinese embassy in Ottawa:

His Excellency Lu Shumin
Ambassador
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
515 St. Patrick Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 5H3

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.