Christian Leader Detained

06 February 2008

Henan, China At approximately 5:00 p.m. on January 29, a Chinese Christian leader, Bai Cheng, was detained in Luoyang, Henan province while he was leading a Bible study, according to a January 31 report from China Aid Association. That same day, Cheng's sister-in-law received a criminal detention notice issued by the Public Service Bureau of Luoyang stating that Cheng had been put in criminal detention at Luoyang City Detention Centre for his suspected participation in "evil cult" activities under Article 61 of China's criminal law. Officials also confiscated two computers and a car from Cheng.

Pray for strength for Bai as he serves his Saviour in prison. Pray he will be released soon. Pray that his passion for Christ will be a light that draws others to Jesus
(Matthew 5:14-16).

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

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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.