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China

• Police harass Christians invited to international conference

  Several Chinese Christian invitees to The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization -- which began on October 16 in Cape Town, South Africa -- have recently faced harassment from authorities. On October 17, police raided a hotel in Beijing where more than 30 house church Christians, all invited delegates of the Lausanne Congress who had been blocked by Beijing customs officials, were gathered for a worship service. The officials charged the believers with holding an illegal gathering and sent most of them home. Others, including at least four pastors, were seized by police and taken to an undisclosed location. According to the pastors' families, authorities plan to detain the leaders until October 25 -- the last day of the Lausanne Congress.

  Pray for the release of those detained. Pray that Chinese believers facing opposition will stand firm in their faith and continue to live in unwavering obedience to the Lord. Pray for God's blessings on the Lausanne Congress. Pray that the Chinese government will recognize the rights of its Christian citizens and uphold true justice.

  You can find out more about the persecuted Church in China at theChina Country Report.

• Authorities harass Christian attorney

  Photo from ChinaAid

  A Christian attorney, Jiang Tianyong, was seized by police officers on his way to a worship service in Beijing on October 10. Jiang was on route to his church when police officers blocked his way, claiming that the deputy director of Yangfangdian Police Station would not allow him to go to church. Jiang then phoned the station and was told that it was actually Song Aixin, an official from the Haidian Public Security Branch, who was preventing him from attending church. When Jiang called Song Aixin, he was urged to cooperate. "I wondered how he wanted me to cooperate," Jiang later said of the experience. "Should I cooperate with the police in violating the law?... Should I give up my personal freedom and the freedom to worship before they can call it 'cooperation?' I said that, as a Christian, I had to attend today's worship service."

  Jiang told the officers that he was determined to go to church, but said they could follow him if they wished. He and his family then attempted again to make their way to the service, this time with plainclothes officers trailing them. At the subway station, however, two young police officers suddenly grabbed Jiang from behind while his wife and child watched on in fear. Jiang told his family to leave and then tried to talk with the two officers, who said it would be a "serious act of dereliction" if he attended church. They held him long enough to prevent him from making it to the service before escorting him home.

  The incident follows harassment Jiang and his family faced in the second week of September, when authorities followed him, hacked into his email and changed the locks on his wife's bicycle and their home. (Source: ChinaAid)

  Pray for endurance of faith for Jiang and his family amid harassment. Pray that they will continue to yield their hearts to God's will and demonstrate His love even to their oppressors. Pray that Christians in China will continue to exercise their right to worship despite opposition.

  For more on the persecution of Christians in China, go to theChina Country Report.

• Church raided, members beaten and robbed

  On September 26, a house church meeting in Youqing, Sichuan province was interrupted by 10 police and security people, who proceeded to destroy and confiscate private property and detain and beat church members. The authorities, who claimed the gathering was illegal, smashed one desk and about 30 benches and hauled them away. They also confiscated the Christians' books, as well as 500 Yuan (approximately $75 CDN). They then took 20 Christians to the police station where they were interrogated. Five were released after their families posted bail, but the others remained detained for several hours before being released. During the detention, the director of the station beat two of the believers, Wang Junzhang and Yan Chuanchun. When the some of the believers returned the next day to retrieve their property, five were given 15 days' detention for "disrupting the public order under the guise of religion." (Source: ChinaAid)

  Praise the Lord for the faithfulness of Chinese Christians who continue to meet together in fellowship, at great risk. Please pray for the release of those in custody. Pray that those who were beaten will be strengthened and fully restored.

  To learn more about the suffering Church in China, please visit theChina Country Report.

• Church demolished, Bible study raided

  Nearly 200 police officers demolished the prayer room of Taishan Christian Church in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, China on September 21 on the grounds of a "building code violation." After the demolition, dozens of church members arrived on site and worshipped the Lord, reciting the Bible and singing hymns while the police officers tried to disperse them. A member of the church said a line of police prevented them from removing their belongings from the prayer room. The attack was the second such incident in less than a month, as authorities previously destroyed prayer rooms on August 30. Commenting on the incidents, Pastor Zhu said, "The last time they came here, they tore down six of the eight rooms.... [In this attack], about 200 people came again and surrounded the entire place. Then, they totally leveled the buildings, stating that the structures violated the building code."

• Pastor detained at trial for house church leaders

  Pastor "Bike" with his wife Photo from ChinaAid

  The court proceedings for the trial of Liu Yunhua and Gao Jianli, two Chinese Christians imprisoned in Xuchang, Henan province, began on September 20. The outcome of the proceedings is not yet known. It was reported, however, that several believers who had come to witness the event were detained, including the previously imprisoned Pastor "Bike" Zhang Mingxuan and his wife (for more about the trials Pastor "Bike" has faced from authorities, click here). Pastor Zhang and his wife were released a few hours later. Other local Christians, including the son of the defendant Liu Yunhua, were detained by authorities on their way home from the trial. These believers remained detained at last report. (Source: ChinaAid)

  Pray for the release of the detained believers. Pray for patience of heart and strength of faith for Liu and Gao as they face opposition. Ask God to continue to equip and embolden Pastor Zhang in his ministry.

  For more information on the opposition facing Christians in China, visit theChina Country Report.

• Church leaders threatened for mission conference

  According to ChinaAid, at least three Chinese house churches were shut down on August 5 and 6. The churches were located in Wuhan, Hubei, in Sanmenxia, Henan, and in Changsha, Hunan. They belonged to China Gospel Fellowship, one of the major house church networks in China, with an estimated 5-7 million members.

  The churches were forced to close down by the Chinese government because church leaders were invited to attend the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation in October 2010 at Cape Town, South Africa. Sources informed ChinaAid that the Chinese Public Security Bureau has obtained the list of 200 Chinese invitees and threatened some of them not to attend, but CGF leaders refused to back down. (Source: ChinaAid)

  Thank the Lord for the faithfulness of these believers. Pray the church leaders and members will continue to meet with one another. Praise God for the way He is working in China as the church continues to grow in spite of the restrictions.

  Visit the China Country Report for more details on the persecution of Christians in China.

• Update: Pastor threatened with exile

  Pastor Wang Dao and his family Photo from ChinaAid

  Contacts of The Voice of the Martyrs were recently able to meet with Pastor Wang Dao (40), a leader of the Liangren Church in Guangzhou city who was imprisoned on charges of "gathering a mob to disrupt the public order" in late May and released a few weeks later (click here for the full story). When told that he had to choose between exile or imprisonment for his Christian activity, Pastor Wang stated that he had no intention of being exiled and was prepared for a lengthy imprisonment. Since his release, authorities have been closely monitoring him. They have also informed him that if he continues to preach he will be forced into exile. Pastor Wang, however, is standing firm in his conviction that God's place for him is in China.

  Pray for continued resilience of faith for Pastor Wang. Pray also for God to comfort and strengthen his wife and their son and daughter. Pray that Christians suffering for their faith in China will rest in the perfect love of the cross, which drives out all fear (1 John 4:18).

  To find out more about the persecution of Christians in China, go to theChina Country Report.

• Update: Family permitted visit with imprisoned church leader

  Alimujiang Yimiti and his family Photo from ChinaAid

  Alimujiang Yimiti, a Uyghur house church leader who was sentenced in 2009 to 15 years' imprisonment for "providing state secrets to overseas organizations" (click here for more information), was permitted to visit with his family for 20 minutes on July 13. Alimujiang's family was relieved to see him alive, as guards had repeatedly refused to allow them visits in recent weeks. During their meeting, Alimujiang confirmed that he had received his wife's letters. However, only one of his letters has been delivered to his wife, and he warned her that she and the children should not expect to see more letters from him due to the difficulty he faced in sending them. (Source: ChinaAid)

  Thank the Lord that Alimujiang was able to visit with his family. Pray that authorities will continue to allow the visits. Pray that Alimujiang will be released from prison. Pray that he and his family will rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with them through this difficult time (Psalm 23).

  To learn more about persecution in China, go to theChina Country Report.

• Update: Imprisoned Christian refused further visits

  Alimujiang Yimiti and his family Photos from ChinaAid

  Imprisoned Uyghur house church pastor Alimujiang Yimiti, who was finally allowed to visit with his family in recent months (click here for more information), has been prevented further visits. Alimujiang's mother, wife and children were able to meet with him for the first time in two years in April. In May, they were permitted a second meeting for 20 minutes. However, authorities have since demanded that a letter stamped by the local police verifying Alimujiang's relationship with his wife and mother be brought to each meeting. The local police, meanwhile, claim the letter is unnecessary and refuse to cooperate. Alimujiang's lawyers have not been permitted to meet with him since he was moved into prison.

  Although Alimujiang's wife, Gulinuer, mails a letter to him every week, she only knows of two letters that have reached her husband. She has yet to receive a reply. One letter mailed to Alimujiang from the United States was returned to the sender with the word "deceased" written across the envelope. Sources have been unable to confirm the validity of the message. (Source: ChinaAid)

  Pray for health and strength for Alimujiang and his family. Pray that authorities will allow him to resume visits with his loved ones. Pray that the charges against him will be dropped and he will be free to return home. Pray that his love for Christ will draw others closer to the Lord.

  To learn more about persecution in China, go to theChina Country Report.

• Pastor released on bail

  Pastor Wang Dao and his family Photo from ChinaAid

  Wang Dao, a pastor who was arrested in China's Guangdong province on arbitrary charges of "gathering a mob to disrupt the public order" in early May, was released on bail on June 13. Pastor Wang, a leader of the Liangren Church, has reportedly been threatened with exile and denied the right to meet with his lawyers. He is now facing new changes of "hindering the administration of credit cards." Despite such allegations, Pastor Wang insists the case against him is a direct act of persecution for his faith. Members of his house church have also undergone unjust treatment from authorities. Aside from losing their pastor, they have been locked out of their rented building, forced to worship outdoors, ordered to disband from a peaceful meeting in a park and evicted from another rented building. Upon his release, Pastor Wang Dao expressed thanks to all those in his Christian family who have prayed for and supported him. (Source: ChinaAid)

  Pray that officials will drop the charges against Pastor Wang. Pray that his trial will be conducted with due process of law. Pray that Wang Dao and the Liangren Church will continue to stand firm in their faith in Christ.

  For more on trials facing Chinese Christians, go to theChina Country Report.