Christian Literature Confiscated, Believer Detained in Shandong Province

23 July 2008

Shandong, China map Last week it was reported that Pastor Zhang Zhongxin was sentenced to two years "re-education through labour" in the city of Jining, Shandong province on June 4. Several members of his church have since come under fire from authorities, according to a July 21 report from China Aid Association. On July 14, Chinese officials along with an "anti-cult group," seized Bibles and other religious literature from Mr. Lu Xiaoai. That same day, the police broke into the home of Mr. Li Dali in the district of Rencheng and confiscated Christian materials. Also, police detained Mr. Lian Dehai and raided his home for Christian materials.

Pray for the release of Mr. Dehai. Pray that these Christians will continue to stand firm in their faith in the face of pressure and intimidation (Acts 5:29).

For more information on the persecution of 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.