Christian Gathering Raided

17 January 2007

China On January 6, the local police from Yongfeng Township in Henan Province raided a Christian gathering held in the village of Chencun, according a January 15 report from China Aid Association. At approximately 4:00 p.m., police broke into the house where fourteen Christians were gathered and declared the meeting "cultic" and "illegal." Police then arrested eleven Christians and brought them to a police station for interrogation. Two of the Christians were released the following day. At last report, the rest were still in detention. The names of some of those detained are: Ju Xiang (48), Liu Xiaoduo (42), Wang Sheqin (40), Fu Juyi (36), Hong Xia (37), Xue Xianghuo (49) and Xue Xiaona (34), are also among those detained.

Pray that the remaining believers will be released. Pray that the Christians in China will be encouraged to continue meeting together regardless of persecution (Hebrews 10:23-25). Pray that their passion for Christ will draw nonbelievers to Him.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, go to the China Country Report.

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.