Bishop Released After Ten Years

30 August 2006

Bishop An Shuxin (57) was arrested in May 1996. Over the past ten years, those outside of prison have only seen him once, when he was able to visit his elderly mother for a few hours on the Chinese New Year of 2000. The public did not see him again until his sudden release on August 24.

According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, An remains under surveillance. He has also been issued a work permit to serve as a Roman Catholic bishop and to do pastoral work, even though he has not registered with the government-approved church. No information is known at this time about conditions surrounding his release.

Praise God with us that Bishop An has been released! Pray that he will be faithful to give the truth of God's Word to those under his care (I Peter 5:1-4). Ask God to fill his heart with peace beyond comprehension as he brings his needs to the Lord. (Philippians 4:4-7).

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

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.