Pastor of State-Run Church Released!

China Aid 26 May 2016

Zhang Chongzhu
Photo: ChinaAid

The pastor of a state-run church in China's coastal Zhejiang province was released at noon on May 9th after an eight-month detention. Authorities took Zhang Chongzhu, the pastor of Pyongyang Three-Self Patriotic Movement Church, into custody on September 8, 2015. The detained Christian leader, who spent most of the year resisting a government-backed cross demolition campaign, was charged with "stealing, spying, buying, or illegally providing state secrets or intelligence to entities outside China."

This same charge was given to Zhang Kai, a human rights lawyer who legally defended churches affected by the demolition efforts. Both men had been scheduled to meet with the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, David Saperstein, causing members of Zhang Chongzhu's church to suspect a correlation between this meeting and his detention.

To review a report on the recent release of Zhang Kai, click here. For previously posted reports on the cross demolition campaign, you may also wish to check this page.

Rejoice with us over the release of these steadfast brothers in Christ, who have suffered in prison for standing up for our God. It is not an easy task to remain firm in one's beliefs when trouble arises, but we are reminded in His Word that believers who do so will be rewarded in eternity. Please pray for those who wish to remove all signs of Christianity from China’s landscape. May they witness the strength and compassion of Jesus Christ through the lives of His children and, as a result, personally experience His transforming love as well.

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.