House Church Building Demolished

08 November 2006

In the early morning of October 26, a house church building on the campus of the Jilian Agricultural University in Changchun, China was completely destroyed, according to a November 1 report from China Aid Association. The building served as both a meeting place for the Nongda house church and a supermarket.

According to eyewitnesses, five hundred police officers, along with several hundred peasant workers, surrounded the building at 4:00 a.m. The people sleeping inside were driven out of the building. The authorities then proceeded to destroy the main part of the building, along with the furnishings. Within an hour, there was nothing but debris. No explanation was given for the demolition.

The Nongda church has steadfastly refused to affiliate with the official Three-Self Church and have faced repeated threats and harassment in the past.

Pray that, despite the loss of their building, these believers will be reassured of their lasting and more precious inheritance (Hebrews 10:36, 37). Pray that Christ will be glorified as they courageously remain true to him (Philippians 1:20). Pray that their faithfulness will result in many people coming to salvation (Romans 12:14, 21).

For more information on the persecution facing 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.