Christians beaten, house churches raided during Christmas

31 December 2008

There were several incidents of attacks on Christians in China during Christmas week, according to reports from ChinaAid.

On the afternoon of December 24, approximately 40 police officers raided a construction site in the village of Jingjia, Sichuan province where Christian volunteers were helping to rebuild homes destroyed in the massive May 12 earthquake. The allegedly intoxicated officers beat and swore at those present and seized Bibles, hymnals, televisions, and other items belonging to the Christians. They refused to present legal documents giving reason for the raid. One of the earthquake victims and several of the Christian volunteers were eventually taken into custody by officials.

Also on December 24, nine Christian women were arrested in Yucheng county, Henan province while leading a Christmas celebration. Five of the women were released the next day after their families paid fines ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 Yuan (approximately $270-$625 CAD) while the others, at last report, remained in detention.

At least two Chinese house churches were raided while holding holiday celebrations on Christmas Day. Several leaders were arrested in the raids -- two in Bozhou city, Anhui province and seven in Qitai county, Xinjiang Autonomous Region. At last report, all of these Christians were still imprisoned.

Pray for the release of those detained. Pray that Christians in China will continue to stand firm in their faith in the face of violence and intimidation (Acts 5:29).

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in China, go to China's 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.