Catholic Church Destroyed in Fujian

06 September 2006

China flag, rosary and prayer book Police in Fujian, China have destroyed a church in the village of Yutouchang and promised to demolish another in a neighbouring village, according to a September 4 report from AsiaNews.

On the morning of September 1, approximately five hundred policemen and other officials arrived with bulldozers and destroyed a recently-completed building built by an unregistered Catholic church. When local Christians attempted to stop the destruction, they were beaten by police.

Before leaving, police warned that they intended to destroy another church building presently under construction in the village of Ao Oian. Authorities justify these demolitions by citing "security reasons."

Pray for the physical healing of those who were beaten. Ask God to give these Christians a deep assurance of His never-ending love, even in the midst of very trying circumstances (Ephesians 3:14-19). Ask God to preserve the second church building from demolition.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, 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.