Tags

China

• Update: Pastor Zhang released; Pastor Hua still detained

  Pastor Zhang and Pastor Hua Photos from ChinaAid

  The Voice of the Martyrs received new information on October 8 from ChinaAid regarding Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan and Pastor Hua Huiqi, two prominent Chinese pastors who have been under fire from authorities in recent months.

  Pastor Zhang and his wife, who were forcibly escorted from their home on September 23 by officials (read the story), were released and returned to their Beijing home on October 4. The couple, who were detained to "preserve stability" during China's National Day celebrations, were unharmed during their internment. They expressed their thanks to those who upheld them in prayer.

  More details have been learned about the condition and whereabouts of Pastor Hua Huiqi, who was arrested by officials on September 17 (click here for more information). On September 22, officials escorted Pastor Hua to a hospital in Beijing to visit briefly with his ailing brother. Five days later, his wife, Ju Mei, was able to visit him in prison. She reported that her husband was in good condition and had begun a time of praying and fasting.

  To learn more about the persecution of believers in China, visit theChina Country Report.

• Update: Fushan church leaders detained by officials

  Fushan Church after the destruction Photo from ChinaAid

  Nine church leaders of the Fushan Church in Linfen City, China were seized by Shanxi Public Security Bureau officials on September 25, according to a September 29 report from ChinaAid. The leaders were travelling to Beijing to seek justice from the central government for the September 13 attack on their church site (click here for more information) when they were apprehended without warrant. Following the arrest, officials confiscated church-owned property such as computers and televisions, terming them "illegal materials," and placed the church's other leaders and members under house arrest and constant surveillance. The next day, state military police were stationed inside the church building to prevent believers from entering or holding services. More than 30 daughter churches nearby have also been prohibited from gathering together for worship. At last report, the whereabouts and condition of the detained Christians were unknown.

  Find out more about the plight of Chinese Christians at theChina Country Report.

• Pastor and wife forced to vacate home

  Pastor Zhang Photo from ChinaAid

  Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan and his wife were forcibly escorted from their home on the morning of September 23 by Beijing Public Security Bureau and Religious Affairs officials, according to a September 25 report from ChinaAid. The two are being detained at an undisclosed location in Henan to "preserve stability in the province" for China's National Day celebrations on October 1. Pastor Zhang, the leader of the Chinese House Church Alliance, has been frequently attacked and detained by officials (click here for more details). He has been warned against speaking or communicating with outside sources about his detention, especially the foreign media. The couple will reportedly be held for the duration of the National Day celebrations.

  Ask God to sustain and protect Pastor Zhang and his wife while in detention. Pray for significant and lasting advances in religious freedom in China.

  Find out more about the plight of Chinese Christians at theChina Country Report.

• Prominent pastor detained by officials

  Pastor Hua Huiqi Photo from ChinaAid

  Pastor Hua Huiqi was seized by Chinese officials in Fengtai District in Beijing on September 17, according to a September 17 report from ChinaAid. At approximately 5:30 p.m., Pastor Hua called his wife, Ju Mei, on his cell phone and told her that he had been forced into a Public Security Bureau vehicle while on his way to a dinner meeting. Less than half-an-hour later, Hua phoned his wife again and told her that officials had taken him to an unknown location. The phone line then went dead. When VOMC partners inquired about Hua, officials told them he was in their custody but refused to disclose his condition or location. A week before Pastor Hua's arrest, a vocational training ministry that he is involved in was raided by officials. To learn more about this attack, read the story from ChinaAid.

  Pray that Pastor Hua will be released. Ask God to give comfort and strength to his family in this time.

  To find out more about China's suffering Christians, go to theChina Country Report.

• Church construction site attacked, believers brutally assaulted

  Photos from the Fushan Church

  In the early morning hours of September 13, a mob of approximately 400 people, including Chinese officials, barged into the Good News Cloth Shoes Factory on the site of the Fushan Church building in Linfin City, Shanxi province, according to a September 15 report from ChinaAid. The officials used two construction vehicles to tear at the building's foundation and also attacked church members who were sleeping on the site, beating them with bricks and other blunt objects. They also smashed windows, doors and appliances, looted church members' money, cell phones, clothes and books and stole the factory's business license. At least ten church members were severely injured in the violence. Several were taken to the emergency room for treatment. However, the hospital was told by unidentified authorities to withhold medical treatment, including blood transfusions, from the injured church members. The factory's electricity, water supply and telephone have been terminated and guards have been placed on site to monitor the supply lines.

  Pray that the Lord will strengthen members of the Fushan Church in their hearts, minds and bodies as they face opposition for their faith. Pray that they will demonstrate Christ's love and compassion to their persecutors.

  Learn more about China's suffering Christians at theChina Country Report. To view a video of the destruction and a prayer meeting the next day, click here.

• Church banned, Christians arrested

  Two members of the Laojie Christian Church in the village of Sangdong in China's Henan province were arrested only days after authorities officially banned their church for a second time, according to reports from VOMC partner, ChinaAid.

  Officials announce the decision to ban the Laojie Christian Church Photo from ChinaAid

  On August 6, the Bureau of Religious and Ethnic Affairs in Xiayi County officially banned the Laojie Christian Church, declaring it "an illegal site for religious activities." An earlier statement abolishing the church had been issued on June 27. The church's abolishment follows a recent proposal made to them by the Village Party Committee of Sangdong to exchange their church property for another only half the size. When the Christians asked for a more equitable replacement, the committee threatened to demolish the church building.

  At approximately 8:00 p.m. on August 13, several police officers barged into the church building and arrested two men, Li Guangren and Zheng Xincai. When a member of the church was contacted by a foreign media correspondent from Radio Free Asia to verify the incident, he stated that the violations of privacy and freedom were wrongful and unjust. Officials, who were monitoring the call, used the interview as evidence to further detain and convict the two believers for "unlawful social activities." Guangren and Xincai were sentenced on August 14 to 10 days of administrative detention and fines of 1,000 Yuan (approximately $160 CAD).

  Ask God to protect and sustain Guangren and Xincai during their detention. Pray for courage for Chinese believers as they continue to serve the Lord despite harassment and arrest.

  For more information on how Christians are persecuted in China,click here.

• House churches raided, Christians arrested

  Chinese officials have raided house church meetings and arrested believers throughout the country in recent weeks, according to reports from ChinaAid.

  A house church was raided and eight Christians arrested in the A'Ler Tai area of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on July 3. Two of the arrested believers have been released. At last report, four remained detained in an undisclosed location and the whereabouts of two arrested Chinese American missionaries were unknown.

  On July 5, officials raided a house church worship service in Dongyong city, Shandong province. Believers were accused of "disturbing social order" for organizing a religious service for more than 40 people in a home. The house church was abolished by the authorities.

  At approximately 10:30 a.m. on July 13, local police and security officers surrounded a youth camp in Hubin town, Tengzhou city, Shandong province and arrested 32 Christians, including youth and adult church workers. Property was confiscated from the Christians, including electronic equipment, Bibles and cell phones. Police told the Christian leaders, "It is forbidden for those under 18 to believe Christianity, and even those above 18 years old are not allowed to organize or participate in religious activities without permission." The Christian youth were taken to the police station where they were interrogated, threatened and beaten before they were released. The five Christians who organized the camp, including a 16-year-old, remained in detention at last report. They were without food or water for two days. On July 14, the five were given administrative detention sentences of up to 15 days for "engaging in illegal activities."

  Pray for the release of those detained. Ask God to give Christians in Shandong the endurance to stand firm despite the opposition. Pray that the love and peace of Jesus Christ will be exemplified by Christians in Xinjiang, where ethnic violence recently erupted between Han Chinese and Uyghurs.

  For more information on the persecution of Chinese Christians, check out the China Country Report.

• Update: Chinese couple sentenced for ''engaging in illegal religious activities''

  Pastor Dou's friends gather to pray outside the prison Photo from ChinaAid

  Pastor Dou Shaowen, who was arrested by officials on June 14 (click here for more details) has been given a one year sentence of "re-education" through labour, according to a July 1 report from ChinaAid. Pastor Dou's wife, Feng Lu, received the same sentence. While Pastor Dou is currently imprisoned in a labour camp, authorities have permitted Feng Lu to serve her sentence at home so she can care for their 12-year-old daughter. However, officials informed her that she will be sent to the camp if she is discovered engaging in further "illegal religious activities." The believers who were given 15-day administrative sentences following the June 14 house church attack have not yet been released at last report.

  To learn more about the persecution of Christians in China, visit theChina Country Report.

• Update: Three Christians released from detention in Shaanxi

  Three house church leaders that were arrested in Taochuan village, Shaanxi province on June 14 for "illegal religious activities" (click here for more details) have been released, according to a June 27 report from ChinaAid. Xu Fenying was released on June 19 and Liu Caili and Huang Shumin were released on June 24. The three have filed an administrative lawsuit against the Luonan County Public Security Bureau of Shaanxi Province on the grounds that the authorities had no legal basis to confiscate their literature or subject them to fines and detention.

  To learn more about the persecution of Christians in China,click here.

• Update: House church leaders released in Sichuan

  The house church leaders arrested in Langzhong city, Sichuan province on June 9 (read the details) have been released following international pressure, according to a June 26 report from ChinaAid. Thirteen of the leaders served 10 days of administrative detention and were released on June 20. The five leaders placed in criminal detention were released on June 23.

  To learn more about the persecution of Christians in China,click here.