Believers Denied Access to Their Homes

Men talking outside
Security guards blocked church members
from returning to their residences.
Photo: ChinaAid

Several members of the Early Rain Covenant Church who reside in the Languang Changdao apartment complex have been prevented from entering the building. Around noon on June 6th, families who tried to return to their homes were denied access to their apartments. When they attempted to go into the building, security guards and others assaulted the believers.

That evening, the apartment manager stopped Xu Haijun and his wife, Jin Ying, from entering their residence. As other Christians assembled to support the couple, Jin spoke to the gathering crowd, saying, "They don't allow us to live here simply because of our religious beliefs." The Christians shouted in response, "We want to go home! We want to go home!"

While the church members continued to gather, the apartment's managerial staff recruited some people to attack the crowd of believers, beating and robbing them. The injured Christians called the police to report the situation, but the authorities did not show up. Some of the believers went to the police station, seeking assistance, but they were ignored.

Church members living within this apartment complex have faced opposition for several months. In addition to being stopped multiple times, Preacher Wu Wuqing's family remains prohibited from returning to their residence. When the Christian family attempted to move some furniture on May 17th, the security guards would not allow it. In the end, the authorities threw the family's personal furniture in the trash.

On the day of this most recent incident, the Early Rain Covenant Church sent out a statement requesting prayer for the displaced church members. Within the statement, the church leaders also called on fellow believers in other parts of the world to pray about the worsening of religious freedom conditions in China: "Please also pray for Chengdu and China. If law enforcement continues to destroy the rule of law, and the government continues to abuse its power, not only Christians will suffer, but the whole country will face a dark future."

Further information on the difficulties faced by members of this church in recent years, as well as reports addressing other incidents of persecution against believers in this nation, are available at our country report.

Pray for wisdom on behalf of these ill-treated church members who are being denied rightful access to their homes. Ask God to clearly direct their next steps as they contemplate how to appropriately deal with the situation, also filling them with comfort, courage and peace. In the process, may these persecuted Christians serve as effective testimonies of the Lord's love and grace to the apartment manager, other tenants living in the complex, as well as the authorities involved in the incident. Finally, please intercede for the nation of China as a whole, praying that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully in the hearts and minds of people throughout the nation.

  • 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.

China News

  • House Church Bible Study Gathering Raided
    Three police officers are browsing through a phone as a church member looks on.
    One of the church members being interrogated by police.
    Photo: ChinaAid

    Several Christians were gathered on the morning of August 22nd for a Bible study at the Beijing Holy Love Fellowship church when multiple police officers suddenly entered the facility. After demanding to see the believers' identification cards, the authorities recorded the personal details of all those who were present. At the time of publishing this report, no official statement or charges have been issued by the Beijing police.

  • Pastor Arrested for "Illegal Business Operations"
    Huang Yizi is speaking on the phone while in prison.
    Pastor Huang Yizi
    Photo: ChinaAid

    Pastor Huang Yizi, a prominent church leader in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, was informed on July 30th that he had been formally charged with "illegal business practices" relating to the distribution of sermon recordings. The Christian leader and several other church members were initially taken into custody on June 26th. At the time, the reason for their arrests was unclear. (A previously published report about the arrests is available here.) However, following the recent announcement of formal charges, further information has now come to light.

  • Detained Pastor's Family Faces Harassment
    Chang Shun is holding his little boy. Both are smiling.
    Pastor Chang Shun with one of his children.
    Photo: ChinaAid

    Since 2021, Pastor Chang Shun of the Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang City has encountered ongoing harassment from Chinese authorities. Unfortunately, all his appeals, in response to the multiple administrative detentions and fines he received over the years, have been unsuccessful. In 2023, Pastor Chang's church was officially banned by the government. Most recently, the harassed church leader was detained on June 29th during a raid by law enforcement officers. In this latest occurrence, he was taken into custody alongside Elder Ma Tao on suspicion of "organizing illegal gatherings." Several visiting friends and family members of Pastor Chang were also detained. Authorities forcibly relocated the visiting individuals, loading their belongings onto trucks and sending them back to their hometowns with strict orders not to return to Fuyang.