New Wave of Arrests

A prominent evangelical house church leader, Wang Jinhua, along with her husband, Xu Jinfu, and their eight-year-old son, Xu Enze, were arrested on July 11 in Jilin City, China. The boy was released after church members appealed to the authorities on his behalf. Xu Jinfu was released on July 14, but Wang Jinhua has been transferred to the Baishan Prison after three days and nights of interrogation.

According to China Aid sources, Wang was questioned about her relationship to the Three-Grade Servant group, a controversial religious sect whose leader was sentenced to death on July 5. Wang was a former leader in the group but left ten years ago.

China Aid has also learned of several other arrests in recent days in the provinces of Henan and Sichuan. On July 9, fifteen house church leaders were arrested at the Nanuan House Church in Nanyang City, Henan. According to eyewitnesses, twenty Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers broke down the door and confiscated the church offering box and the sound system. Four of those arrested were released later that day. At last report, however, eleven others were still in custody, accused of engaging in "evil cult" activities. Those in custody are Liu Wanlong, Wang Jie, Chen Tongqing, Chen Guangzhou, Chen Guangzhi, Zhang Wei, Xiao Qin (family name not available), Xiao Fei (family name not available), Duan Xiaotong and his wife. When Chen Tongqing's wife and son went to the detention center to look for Chen, both were beaten by the prison police. Chen's son was forced to return home and gather his father's Bibles and other Christian literature and turn them over to the police.

In Langzhong City, Sichuan, two house church leaders were arrested on July 6 and accused of being "evil cult" leaders. Dan Wei and his wife, Xiao Tianmin, were leading a Bible study when four PSB officers raided the home and arrested them.

Pray that the ongoing spate of arrests will serve to strengthen the determination of believers throughout China to remain true to the Lord (Acts 4:29-31). Pray that those who are still incarcerated and may be facing physical suffering will remain faithful under pressure. Ask God to strengthen the young believers to follow in the example that has been passed down to them by their leaders (1 Corinthians 4:9-14, 16). Pray that God would bring verses of Scripture to mind that will comfort the prisoners and their families during these trying times (Psalm 119:49-56). Continue to pray that the Chinese government will recognize the basic human right to worship as one chooses.

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