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| More than 425 churches have been affected by Zhejiang’s persecution campaign since early 2014. Photo: China Aid |
Shendong Church in Zhejiang was forcibly demolished on April 28th in continuation of the province-wide "Three Rectifications and One Demolition" campaign. Authorities reportedly claimed that the land on which the church was built belonged to the government. The church had previously submitted requests to the local religious affairs bureau and other government agencies, requesting that their location be approved and finalized. However, the contacted governing officials never responded to these requests.
Following the destruction, the church's pastor then specifically contacted the government official who was in charge of the demolition and the church site's subsequent relocation. When informed that the government needed two months to find and approve a new gathering site, the church demanded that the government find a new site immediately. For the time being, the church has been meeting in a nearby clubhouse.
The demolition occurred on the one-year anniversary of the demolition of Sanjiang Church, a mega-church in Zhejiang that was one of the first major church demolitions in the persecution campaign. (For more information on that incident, you can read our previous prayer alert.)
Pray that, through His mysterious ways, God will use the ongoing opposition against the church in Zhejiang to advance His kingdom purposes there. Specifically, ask Him to embolden the faith of this congregation, equipping each of them to be powerful agents of His grace. May they continue meeting together for worship despite the present obstacles, while trusting God that they will soon be granted a suitable new gathering site.
For more information on China's persecuted church, visit our Country Report.
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