According to reports received by The Voice of the Martyrs, a group of Christians were returning from Sunday worship in a home in Langzhong, Sichuan Province on June 27, a police car, a van and three motorcycles suddenly blocked their way. Without showing identification, the officers forced eight believers into their vehicle and took them to the Public Security Office in Baoma Town for interrogation. Hearing of the detention, several house church leaders went to ask for an explanation. Four of them, Li Ming, Jin Jirong, Wang Yuan and Li Hongbo, were detained. When three local believers went to the Public Security Office to visit them, they found 66-year-old Jin Jirong's feet injured. When they questioned authorities about the apparent abuse, they were arrested on false charges ranging from assaulting a police officer to interfering with the performance of an officer's duty. All three have since been released. At last report, Li Ming, Wang Yuan, Li Mingbo and Jin Jirong were still detained and have likely been sent to labour camps for "re-education."
According to reports from China Aid Association, a house church in the village of Guo, Zhu Ma Dian City in the Chinese province of Henan was raided by Public Security Bureau officers while they were worshipping on July 19. More than sixty Christians were interrogated for several hours before being released.
Two days later in Shen Fan village of the city of Anlu in Hubei province, six police officers raided a home where forty-three Christians had met for fellowship. The officers searched the home, confiscated Christian books and took twenty of the Christians to the local police station. Some were released later that afternoon, but eight were given ten to fifteen days' detention. Those still in custody are: Brother Sun Yaozhou, Brother He Luohua, Brother Wang Dayou, Brother Fang Aiwen, Sister Huang Zhiying, Sister Fang Mingzhen, Sister Hu Yuzhen and Sister Zhang Jianfang.
Pray for the physical healing of those who have been injured. Pray for the release of those who are detained. Pray that the gospel will spread even more as a result of the suffering they face (Philippians 1:12-14). As the Holy Spirit works through them, pray that Christians in China will rejoice in the victory that is theirs through the crucified and risen Christ. Pray that God would be glorified as they steadfastly fix their eyes on what is eternal (2 Corinthians 4). Pray that you will be faithful to walk beside them in love, prayer and encouragement (Hebrews 13:3).
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in China, click here.
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