House church leaders arrested in Sichuan

17 June 2009

Pastor Li Ming
Photo from ChinaAid

On June 9, several dozen Chinese officials from the Domestic Security Protection Squad barged into the home of Pastor Li Ming in Langzhong city, Sichuan province, where more than 30 house church leaders were gathered, according to a June 12 report from ChinaAid. Pastor Li's home was searched and all of the believers arrested. Thirteen of the leaders were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention. Five other leaders, including Pastor Li, were placed under criminal detention and are likely to face formal criminal indictment or up to three years of "re-education through labour." The remaining leaders have been released.

Ask God to give wisdom and guidance to the imprisoned leaders and their families. Pray for an end to crackdowns against believers in China.

For more information on China's suffering Christians, check out 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.