On May 24th, police raided the Shengjia Christian Education and Help Centre in Shunde City, which is located within the Chinese province of Guangdong. After forcibly entering the building, the authorities searched the premises and confiscated all the teaching materials. Pastor Deng was arrested, along with four of his coworkers.
The following day, the families of the detained Christians received official notifications stating that each believer had been given a 30-day detention for conducting "illegal business operations." When Pastor Deng's wife, Shaoting, went to the detention centre on May 26th to bring clothing for her husband, she asked the police officers to pass along a Bible to him. They refused to do so. The officers also informed her that the pastor had blisters on his back due to an infection and the resulting inflammation. At the time, she was not told if Pastor Deng would be receiving any medical treatment.
Thankfully, Shaoting was able to deliver letters of encouragement to her husband. In one of them she wrote: "All [of this] happened to us with God's goodwill and for the good of us. Honey, you retreat into God with peace and enjoy the rest while being detained. We can take good care of ourselves, strive to preach the Gospel, and wait for you to come back!" For additional reports on the persecution of Chinese Christians, go to our country report.
As these believers serve their time in detention, please pray that each one of them will experience renewed strength, encouragement and peace. Also intercede for the healing of Pastor Deng and any of the other detained Christians who likewise need the ministry of the Great Physician. Amid the ongoing opposition against our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ, may the life-transforming message of the Gospel continue to spread throughout China.
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