Four House Church Leaders Released

23 January 2008

Hubei, China On August 6, nine house church leaders were given "re-education through labour" sentences ranging from 12 to 18 months for being involved in an "evil cult organization" after they were found worshipping together in Hubei province (click here for more details). According to a January 18 report from China Aid Association, four of these believers were released on January 8 after the Hubei Provincial Re-Education through Labour Administration Committee repealed the decision made by the Re-Education through Labour Administration Committee of Enshi Autonomous Region. The four released leaders are: Mr. Wang Caizhang (34), Mr. Ma Zhao (35), Mr.Yang Situan (39) and Mr. Du Dongliang (32). Three female leaders remain detained. Two others are currently serving their sentences at home due to medical reasons.

For more 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.