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China

• Arrested Church Leaders Released: Update

  The nine house church leaders who were arrested in the village of Chencun, Henan province on January 6, 2007 (click here for more details) were released on January 20, according to a January 26 report from China Aid Association. The church leaders were not given any legal certificate of their arrest, detention or release. Local Christians believe that police deliberately refused the Christians any legal evidence of their detention in order to prevent possible lawsuits. Thank the Lord for the release of these believers. Pray that their persecutors will be brought to justice.

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

• Christian Gathering Raided

  On January 6, the local police from Yongfeng Township in Henan Province raided a Christian gathering held in the village of Chencun, according a January 15 report from China Aid Association. At approximately 4:00 p.m., police broke into the house where fourteen Christians were gathered and declared the meeting "cultic" and "illegal." Police then arrested eleven Christians and brought them to a police station for interrogation. Two of the Christians were released the following day. At last report, the rest were still in detention. The names of some of those detained are: Ju Xiang (48), Liu Xiaoduo (42), Wang Sheqin (40), Fu Juyi (36), Hong Xia (37), Xue Xianghuo (49) and Xue Xiaona (34), are also among those detained.

  Pray that the remaining believers will be released. Pray that the Christians in China will be encouraged to continue meeting together regardless of persecution (Hebrews 10:23-25). Pray that their passion for Christ will draw nonbelievers to Him.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, go to the China Country Report.
• Attacks on Christian Groups

  Dr. Li Baiguang and others have faced opposition from police recently

  This past week brought two attacks on Christians by local police in China, according to January 8 report from China Aid Association.

  On January 1, the local police raided a Christian Bible Study in Baoding City, Hebei province. The Christians were gathered in a Communist Party school when police arrived at approximately 10:00 a.m. The police took over forty Christians away to be interrogated, including well-known Christian legal activist Dr. Li Baiguang and vice president of the school and Professor Gung Sude (50), who was hosting the study.  Although most of the group was released that evening, Sude was released after several days of investigation. She is currently under tight surveillance.

  On January 4, the local police attacked a Christian meeting in Anlou village, Henan province. They brought three Christians to the police station, including a house church seminary lecturer, An Wenqing. Two of them were released that day but Wenqing was released on January 5 after fourteen hours of police interrogation.

  Pray for those who were imprisoned and interrogated and ask that their trust in Christ will overshadow any fear. Pray that Christians in China will continue to meet together and find mutual encouragement and support (Hebrews 10:23-25).

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

• Christmas Services Disrupted

  Pastor Cai with some of his church members

  In the past week, China Aid Association reported on two instances in which Chinese authorities disrupted Christmas celebrations.

  On Christmas Eve in Beijing, approximately 150 young Christians had gathered to celebrate Christ's coming when Public Security Bureau officers and officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau stormed the gathering. All those present were videotaped and forced to register their ID numbers. The officials declared the meeting an "illegal religious gathering" and warned them not to meet again. The house church was previously led by Pastor Cai Zhuohua, who is presently serving three years in prison for printing Bibles.

  On December 29, a house church in Duolun County, Inner Mongolia was raided by local police and Religious Affairs Bureau officials. They declared the Christmas celebration an "illegal gathering" and detained three of the church leaders, sentencing them to fifteen days administrative detention. Those arrested were Sister Liu Guanghua (42) Sister Zhi Huiping (41) and Sister Zhi Ruiping (35). All of them are being held at the Duolun County Detention Centre.

  Pray that the Chinese Christians will not be discouraged by disrupted celebrations but instead have increased boldness in the face of persecution (Acts 4:29-31). Pray that those who persecute will come to know Christ's love and forgiveness through the lives of these Christians (Romans 12:14, 21). Pray for the release of those detained.

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

• Eight Christians Sentenced

  After a hearing that lasted almost twelve hours on December 22, the eight house church Christians from Zhejiang who were arrested last July (read the story) were given sentences ranging from one year to three and a half years in prison. The sentences for four of the Christians were postponed which suggests that they may be released. During the trial, one of those sentenced, Shen Chengyi (75), lost consciousness and was taken to hospital for treatment.

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

• Gao Zhisheng Sentenced

  Gao Zhisheng

  After a surprise guilty plea was entered on his behalf (click here for more details), the prominent human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng was sentenced to three years in prison. The sentence, however, was postponed for five years and was shorter than originally expected.

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

• Christian Re-Arrested

  On October 25, a training program near Urumqi in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China was raided by police and thirty-five Christians were detained (for more information, click here). All were released by November 26 but one of them, Lou Yuanqi, was rearrested on December 23. It is believed the arrest was to deter Christmas celebrations. Yuanqi was released on bail on December 29 pending trial.

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

• House Church Attacked

  A house church in Changqiao, Shanghai was attacked by local police on December 9, according to a December 15 report from China Aid Association. Although few details of the attack are known, reports claim that the police confiscated some of the church's belongings and one Christian, Wang Mingwei, was taken to the police station. Investigations into the incident are continuing.

  Pray that the Lord will keep brother Wang safe from harm and that He will give him boldness of faith. Pray that the persecutors will know Christ's love, forgiveness and blessing through the lives of Chinese Christians (Romans 12:14, 21).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, click here.
• Gao Zhisheng Found Guilty

  Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer who was formally arrested on September 21 (click here for more details), was found guilty of "inciting subversion" on December 12 by a People's Court in Beijing. The conviction followed a sudden and unexpected guilty plea. The credibility of the guilty plea is questionable, however, since neither his lawyers nor his family members were informed that he was on trial until the proceedings were finished. At last report, his lawyers have been unable to visit him. Pray for the truth to come out and for this verdict to be overturned.

• Eight Christians to Stand Trial

  Ni Weimin, one of the brothers in detention Photo fromChina Aid

  Eight Christians are scheduled to stand trial on December 22 for "inciting a crowd to resist law enforcement" as a result of the destruction of a church building in July 2006 during which hundreds of Christians were beaten and many arrested (click here for more details). Shen Chengyi, Shen Zhuke, Wang Weiliang, Feng Guangliang, Ni Weimin, Guo Lijun, Shen Jianjian and Luo Bingliang are currently in detention and awaiting trial. Shen Jianjian and Luo Baoliang are out on bail. Remember these believers in your prayers during this trial. A short video showing the destruction of the church building is available on www.vomcanada.com.