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China

• Government Shuts Down Numerous House Churches

  Photo: ChinaAid

  The Chinese government has ordered the closure of more than a dozen house churches in the southern province of Hainan in recent weeks and many others have been threatened. On May 26th, while the Sanya Hosanna Church was holding a morning worship service, several people from the Religious Affairs Bureau and the neighbourhood committee came to deliver a document with the title, "Announcement by the Hongqi Street Community of the Voluntary Dissolution of Irregular and Illegal Religious Meeting Sites." They told the believers that if they met again the next week, then the officials would take measures, holding them accountable for the consequences.

  The local neighbourhood committee also exerted pressure on the landlord to stop renting the meeting site to the church, which was given 15 days' notice to move out. The leader of the church was also restricted from going to Hong Kong to attend a special conference; the reason given was that it might jeopardize national security and national interests.

  Also on May 26th, three other Sanya house churches (Elim Church, Bethel Church and Xinju Church) faced the same kind of persecution. Two weeks earlier, Sanya's Mengai Church, Hexing Church, and three other house churches were shut down. A church in Haikou has experienced similar treatment, and several other churches have been forcibly closed. In addition, some churches in the Baoting county have been shut down.

  "Closing a dozen churches in Hainan is an alarming sign that little has changed with Xi Jinping as president," said ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu. "The government is carrying out its plans to 'eradicate' the independent house church movement, a crackdown that would affect up to 100 million people. China must end this repression if it wants global respect as a rising power."

  Pray that these believers will be greatly encouraged spiritually, cultivating a deeper relationship with the Lord as they embrace the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:7-10). Ask that His faithful servants be granted mercy and favour with the officials of the Religious Affairs Bureau and members of the neighbourhood committee. May their oppressors discover the joy and peace of personally knowing Jesus, as witnessed in the lives of these Christians...even in the midst of life's challenges.

• Christian Leaders Detained After Church Raids

  Pray for the safety and release of church leaders in China. Photo: Beijing Shouwang Church

  A house church in southwest China's Sichuan province was raided by police and security agents on two separate occasions recently.

  The first raid took place on April 25th during a music practice. As a result, the pastor and 15 other leaders of Langzhong house church were taken into custody and the brass instruments that were used at the practice have been confiscated. Ten of the 16 were released the next day, with the exception of six church leaders (including Pastor Li Min) who were all sentenced to between three and 15 days' administrative detention.

• Church Raids Lead to Arrests and Prison Sentences

  Dennis Balcombe Photo: ChinaAid

  On Saturday, April 20th, a well-known U.S. church leader, Dennis Balcombe, was held by police under house arrest following a raid on a house church revival meeting in the Chinese city of Nanyang (Henan province). The raid took place at about 10:00 a.m., after the commencement of what had originally been planned as a three-day revival meeting.

  When the 70 attendees gathered that morning, they all handed over their cell phones to a designated person from the organizing church. This was a security precaution to prevent the phones from becoming tracking devices that would lead authorities to their meeting site. They then boarded a bus to the meeting venue at a retreat centre in the Wolong district of the city.

  Not long after the meeting began, several dozen police, Domestic Security Protection (DSP) agents and Religious Affairs Bureau officials swarmed into the room. Without showing any identification, they began filming and photographing the event. The DSP agents then proceeded to finger print and palm print each person at the meeting. Every one of the attendees was interrogated (while a written record of the questioning was taken) and mandated to sign police documents.

  "This latest wave of religious persecution shows that the situation for religious freedom in China continues to worsen," states ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu. "We urge the Chinese authorities to immediately release Pastor Dennis Balcombe and his two coworkers from Hong Kong. The officers who abused their powers by raiding a peaceful prayer service should be held accountable."

  Another incident of concern took place on April 1st in Pingdingshan (also within the province of Henan), where seven house church leaders were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to 7 1/2 years on cult charges. More information about persecution in China can be found at the China Country Report.

  May these Chinese believers and their church leaders remain steadfastly committed to the Lord who has promised to be "an ever-present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Pray that He will swiftly intervene, revealing His power and might not only to each of the believers personally, but also to their persecutors...so that many more names will be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life."

• Officials Raid Xinjiang Christians

  Sister Xu Photo: ChinaAid

  After a violent armed raid on their house church, Christians in remote Xinjiang province have been interrogated on suspicion of being a religious cult. One of the leaders remains in detention since the day police, armed with guns and electric batons, ransacked her home and seized property.

  On March 15th, a total of 21 Public Security Bureau officials visited Sister Xu's house church located in Qimo County, Kurla City (northwest China), while she was holding a prayer meeting. When the 14 assembled Christians did not answer the door, the officials left without incident. However, later on that evening, after the visiting church members had departed, the police arrived back to the meeting location. In addition to confiscating property, they took fingerprints and blood samples from Xu, her son and husband. All three were taken to the local police station for written statements. Xu's husband, having claimed that he was not a Christian, was released along with their son.

  Another one of the house church leaders, Brother Shen, who happened to be summoned and interrogated separately on March 18th, was released within three hours of suffering a heart-related episode triggered by police interrogation. The third leader, Sister Cao, was able to avoid arrest and detainment by fleeing from the area. To learn more about what Christians are facing in China, go to the China Country Report.

  Pray that God will strengthen and comfort Sister Xu, and all the members of the Qimo County house church. May He fill them with the reassuring presence of His Holy Spirit, granting them the courage to withstand this trial and the empowerment to overcome it. Ask Him to also touch the hearts of the officials conducting the investigation. May every aspect of this situation work out favourably for these believers, including an imminent release of Sister Xu and complete healing of Brother Shen.

• Celebrating God's Grace at Outdoor Worship Service

  Photo: ChinaAid

  December 30, 2012, marked the 53rd outdoor worship service of the year for the Beijing Shouwang Church. Despite the arrests of at least 15 participating believers, thankfully all of them were released by noon that same Sunday.

• Harsh Prison Sentence for Christian Poet

  Li’s assistance in the escape of Liao Yiwu, author of God is Red, may be the cause of his harsh sentence.

  After being illegally detained for more than a year, Christian poet Li Bifeng was sentenced with a fabricated charge of "contract fraud," stemming from a legitimate business deal. As of the November 19th sentence, the dissident poet is now facing 12 more years in prison.

  Interestingly, Li had become a Christian while imprisoned for seven years (due to writing poetry promoting freedom in 1998). Prior to that, he served five years for his participation in the Tiananmen democracy movement in 1989. It is widely believed by international observers that the excessive sentence is meant to exact revenge for his aid in assisting the escape of famous exiled Chinese writer Liao Yiwu. Liao is the author of the book, "God is Red," which was selected in 2011 as the best title by "Christianity Today."

  Last August, the prosecutor in the case wanted Li's 17-year-old son, Jiang, who is studying in North America, brought back to China. Li's business and assets were confiscated, preventing him from providing financial assistance to his son. Organizations such as VOM-Canada have helped to raise support for his son's tuition and living expenses during 2012, so that Jiang would not need to return to China and thus face impending harm.

  Please pray that the Lord would provide the means to appeal the court's decision against Li, bringing him deserved vindication. In addition, pray that Jiang will be able to successfully complete his studies. During these very trying circumstances, may Li and his family experience the Lord's mighty power not only to endure but also to rise triumphantly over them (Ephesians 6:10-19).

  For more information about China's persecuted Church, go to the China Country Report.

• Update: Believers at Shouwang Church remain steadfast

  The Shouwang Church continues to gather outdoors to praise & worship God. Photo: Pray for Beijing Shouwang Church Facebook Page

  Shouwang Church in China recently held its 45th outdoor worship service amidst the rain and snow while praising God's faithfulness this year. Church leaders report that while two believers were detained at a hotel and at least 18 more were taken from home or from locations near the service, all have now been released.

  It was three years ago, on November 1, that the church held its first service outside in the cold and snow. The government has been thwarting the efforts of the believers to rent a venue for worship ever since (for more, click here).

  "God reminded us of His grace through the rain and snow on this third anniversary of that day," wrote church representatives in a letter of praise and appreciation. "On that Sunday, God protected His church, and has been watching and guarding His church in the following battle. Although we are always blind to God's presence in this fierce battle because of our weakness, yet the Lord keeps reminding us through various ways that He is near and is with us."

  Please pray that this amazing witness and joy will reach the hearts of unbelievers throughout the region and nation, drawing many to Christ. Please pray that the Shouwang Church will soon be provided with a safe indoor venue for their worship. Pray that government officials will respect religious freedom in China.

  For more information about China's persecuted Church, go to the China Country Report.

• Update: Believers rejoice despite hardship

  Shouwang Church members joyfully worship God outdoors. Photo: ChinaAid

  Believers at Beijing's Shouwang Church in China are full of joy and praise despite 17 months of difficult outdoor worship. The believers have been meeting outdoors since the government began thwarting their efforts to rent premises to worship indoors (click here to learn more).

• Update: Prisoners of faith kept from lawyers

  Alimujiang Yimiti Photo: China Aid Association

  A lawyer for a prominent house church leader and two lawyers for an imprisoned Christian attorney have been refused access to their clients in two separate incidents.

  In August, an attorney from Beijing applied to meet with imprisoned Christian Alimujiang Yimiti in Urumqi, Xinjiang. The lawyer was illegally and unreasonably refused access to Alim by prison officials. Alim, a convert from Islam to Christianity, has been detained since January 2008 and was convicted of "instigating separatism and revealing state secrets to foreigners" (for more, click here). He is currently serving a 15-year sentence.

  Gao Zhisheng Photo: China Aid Association

  The following month, two lawyers for jailed Christian lawyer Gao Zhisheng were denied a meeting at the prison in far west China where he has been held since last December (for more, click here). In order to see their client, Gao's lawyers repeatedly tried to fulfill the unreasonable requests made by officials. However, they were still turned away because officials said they were not "authorized by the prisoner."

  The lawyers in both these cases have said they will fight this decision by appealing to higher authorities and speaking publicly about the injustice.

  Please pray that Alim and Gao will be supernaturally protected while they face these fiery trials. Pray that in all things they will look to our Father for strength. Pray that they will witness to others during their time in prison. Pray that the Lord will open the doors necessary for these men to meet with their legal counsel. Please pray that China will succumb to international pressure to uphold religious freedom for all citizens.

  Go to the China Country Report for more on the suffering Church in China.

• Children's summer camps targeted

  Authorities in China recently raided two church-organized summer camps for children.

  Pray that children in China will come to know Christ.

  Two house churches in Jiangxi province jointly held a church summer camp for elementary school students between June 2 and 7. On June 6, officers and officials from the police station, the public security bureau, the religious affairs bureau, and some primary and secondary school principals converged on the classroom, recording the names of everyone present and confiscating a computer and projector. Three teachers were taken for questioning on the grounds that non-local residents are not allowed to come and evangelize, and officials stressed that children may not become religious believers. They ordered the church to stop hosting classes and said since the church was not registered it was not legal. As a result of international pressure, authorities have since returned the confiscated property and the church has been able to resume meeting normally.

  In early July, police in the far western region of Xinjiang raided a house church Sunday school, rounded up 70 children and their teachers for questioning, and locked up seven teachers in a local detention centre. Some of the children's parents and school principals and teachers were also summoned and questioned.

  Please pray that children who hear the gospel message through church-organized camps will take the life-saving message home to their families and communities. Pray that God will strengthen young believers to follow in the example that has been passed down to them by their leaders (1 Corinthians 4:9-14, 16). Please pray that God will work in the hearts of officials involved in the raids, leading them to know His Son.

  Go to the China Country Report for more on the suffering Church in China.