Christian Bookstore Owner Arrested

12 December 2007

Mr. Shi Weihan and his family Mr. Shi Weihan (37) has been held in an unknown location without formal charges since November 28 when he was arrested by police after twenty members of the Public Security Bureau raided his Christian bookstore near the Olympic Village in Beijing. According to a December 7 report from China Aid Association, some of his employees, his younger brother and his wife were also arrested during the raid but have since been released. Weihan has not been allowed to see his family and has been denied access to a lawyer. He is diabetic and there is considerable concern for his health since he is without medication. Weihan's wife and two daughters have gone into hiding. They fear that threatened reprisals against them could be used as an interrogation tactic against Weihan before legal representation can be arranged.

Pray for safety for Weihan's family. Pray that Weihan will stand firm in his faith and trust in Christ during this time (2 Cor 1:8-9). Pray that he will receive the health care needed. Pray for his release.

For more information on the persecution facing 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.