Christians Arrested for Leading Children in Worship

Children of Early Rain Covenant Church are singing together.
Christians in China faithfully disciple their children.
Photo: ChinaAid
 

According to an anonymous prayer letter received by ChinaAid, three Christians were arrested and detained on January 18th because they had led children from their church in singing hymns and prayer. The next day, police raided the homes of the three detained church members, who have been identified as Dai Chuanli, Wang Dandan and Ma Jiahui. Each of these believers was given a 15-day administrative detention.

This is the third time since September 2023 that members of the Fuyang Maizhong Reformed Church have been detained for their worship activities. Other believers from the church continue to face frequent harassment from community officials, who have pried open the doors of their homes and pressured landlords to evict Christian residents.

Administrative detentions are commonly used as a way of harassing and intimidating believers without having to lay charges against the individuals. For other reports on the persecution of Chinese believers, go to our country report.

Please uphold the congregants of this government-harassed church in your prayers, along with the members of unregistered Christian communities throughout China. May these oppressed believers receive wisdom and strength from the Lord, enabling them to not only endure the challenges they're facing, but also triumphantly overcome them. And despite the overt opposition from Chinese Communist Party officials, may their children continue to be trained in the ways of God so they will likewise courageously serve Him.

  • 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