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Pastor Arrested Following Church Destruction

^{Chinese PSB Officer}
On March 11, authorities in Dong Gang Xi village in Zhejiang Province, China badly damaged a one hundred year old building where an unregistered house church was meeting. The church included about three hundred members and was meeting in the home of its pastor, Liu Fuen. Seeing the destruction, four non-Christian neighbours complained to Wang Tao, the Director of the Religious Affairs Bureau. As a result, they were arrested and held in detention for fifteen days.
Church members repaired some of the damage and continued to meet in the building until March 31 when Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers evicted ten Christians praying inside. Officials then completely destroyed the building, posting notices that this action was taken because the building was being used for illegal religious activity.
Following the attack, Pastor Liu Fuen went into hiding but was arrested on April 9 at the home of his youngest son, Liu Yongsheng. On Easter Sunday, the church met at the home of Pastor Liu's oldest son, Liu Mingliang. Again the PSB raided the service, arresting Mingliang.
Both Pastor Liu and Liu Mingliang are being held under "Criminal Detention," which can last indefinitely.
We encourage Christians to politely voice their concerns to the Chinese government over this and other actions taken against Christians, despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom. Contact information for Chinese embassies is available (click here).
For more information on persecution facing Christians in China,click here.
Authorities Order Concert Cancellation
The day before the chorus of the China National Orchestra was to perform at the Zhongshan Music Hall in central Beijing, authorities ordered the cancellation of the concert. The concert, conducted by Su Wenxing, was planned for April 17 and was to include the "Easter Chorus," based on Bible stories and written by a Chinese-born Canadian, Huang Anlun. While authorities refused to give any reason for the cancellation, an Associated Press report attributed their actions to the continued growth of Christianity in the country.
Su Wenxing became a Christian in 1996 and is the conductor of the Hebei Orchestra. Last year he led Handel's "Messiah" in two cities; concerts that were initially cancelled by authorities but later allowed to proceed.
Praise God for the continued growth of Christianity in China, despite the work of the authorities to stop it. Pray for continued outreach by Christians in the face of opposition and often prison and torture.
For more information on China,click here. A one-of-a-kind documentary of the persecution facing Christians in China is available from The Voice of the Martyrs, entitled "The Cross-Jesus in China." This four DVD set can be ordered through our online catalog.
Updates on Recent Reports from China

^{Bishop Jia Zhiguo}
(a) On April 14, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the arrest of Catholic Bishop Jia Zhiguo on April 5 (click here for more details). Praise God that he was released on the afternoon of April 14.
(b) On March 31, VOM reported that key Chinese leaders were meeting with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva to report on the atrocities committed by the Chinese government against Christians. (click here for more information).
Based on these testimonies and others, the United States sponsored a motion to censure China for its human rights record. In response, China introduced a "no-action" motion to block discussion. This tactic was approved, with twenty-eight members voting with China and only sixteen voting against. Click here for a list of member countries and their vote. It is significant to note that the majority of countries who voted with China are those with less then stellar human rights records. Click here to check out VOM's country reports.

^{Lin Bocheng}
This was the eleventh time that China has defeated such a motion since 1990. In response, the vice president of the government-authorized China Foundation for Human Rights Development, Lin Bocheng, said that the US-led resolution had disregarded the "remarkable progress" China had made in human rights. Spokesman for The Voice of the Martyrs, Glenn Penner, remarked, "I am somewhat puzzled by what the Chinese governments means by 'progress.' Given the rise of reported cases of religious persecution in the last year, I suspect most Christians in China would define it rather differently."
Pray that international pressure will continue against the Chinese government. Pray that the day will come when Chinese Christians will be free to worship without government interference.
For more information on persecution in China,click here.
Imprisoned Pastor Fears for His Life
Pastor Gong Shengliang told his sisters during a short visit on April 12 that he will not survive much longer if he is not transferred to a different prison. Unable to walk, Gong was carried into the visiting hall by four other prisoners. When one of the sisters asked a guard to explain his injuries, she was told that he had fallen while washing windows. Supposedly Gong was washing the inside of the windows but somehow fell outside of the building.
For the past 411 days, Gong has had his arms and legs in chains. Everywhere he goes, he is accompanied by two guards. When his sisters asked him why he had stopped writing letters, Gong told them, "I don't have the strength to write. When I pick up my pen, there are lots of troubles."
When one of the sisters complained to the prison director, Sun Wenquan, about his injuries, she was told that he was a model prisoner, except that he refuses to denounce his faith or stop praying and preaching. The sisters were told, "He is so into the Bible that he has lost touch with reality."
The Voice of the Martyrs encourages people to contact the Chinese government to protest the treatment of Gong and to request a prison transfer without which he may not survive many more weeks. Contact information for Chinese embassies is available at here.
Letters of encouragement can also be sent to Pastor Gong at:
Gong Shengliang
Prison Section Four Te Yi Hao
Hongshan Prison, Miaoshan Development Zone
Jiangxia District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province
People's Republic of China 430223
Pray for physical healing for Pastor Gong. Pray that the mistreatment will stop. Pray that the Chinese government will listen to international pressure and that Gong will be acquitted of the false charges against him.
For more information on persecution facing Christians in China,click here.
Catholic Bishop Arrested On April 5, security police raided the home of Jia Zhiguo, the underground Catholic bishop of Zhengding, Hebei, and took him away, saying they were following orders from their superior. Jia is sixty-nine years old and has previously served roughly twenty years in prison for his faith. He was last detained for three days in March 2002. His home, where he looks after approximately one hundred handicapped orphans, has been under surveillance for many years.
According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, there are no further details on the reasons he was arrested or his present location. Pray for safety and strength for Bishop Jia. Pray that his whereabouts will be found soon and that he will be released unharmed. Pray for safety and adequate care for the orphans he was ministering to.
For more information on persecution in China,click here.
Elderly Christian Prisoner Crippled for Evangelizing
Chen Jingmao is a seventy-two year old South China Church leader, in prison since July 2001 for his ministry, including the "active recruitment of evil cult members." The main evidence of his "crime" was sending his granddaughter for Sunday School Teacher's training.
According to a March 29 report from China Aid, the imprisoned Chen was seriously beaten and crippled on February 6 as a punishment for leading fifty of his fellow inmates to faith in Jesus Christ. Both of his legs were broken and he must now be carried everywhere he goes.
"This news is heartbreaking," says Bob Fu, president of China Aid and China Analyst for VOM. "The sentence was unjustified, and the brutal beating illegal and inhumane, especially to a 72 year old man."
Pray for healing and strength for this elderly saint. Pray that his faith and love will continue to show to those around him.
Concerned readers are encouraged to politely express your concerns for Chen by writing the prison authority at Section 3, Sanxia (Three-Gorge) Prison, Wanzhou, Chongqing City, 404023. Letters of encouragement can also be sent to his relatives at Group 9, Gaofeng Village, Longjao Town, Yunyang County, Chongqing City, China.
For more information on the situation facing Christians in China,click here.
Key Leaders to Testify About Persecution

^{Peter Xu}

^Harry Wu
In the context of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, an international meeting is scheduled in Geneva, Switzerland on April 2. This meeting is to present the needs of the Persecuted Church in China. Many of the speakers at this event can give first-hand testimony of imprisonment and torture. Harry Wu, Brother Yun and Peter Xu, whose sister is presently facing charges (Click here for details) are just a few of the first hand witnesses to the atrocities committed against Christians in China.

Joseph Kung
Also speaking will be Joseph Kung, an expert on the Catholic Church in China, and Bob Fu, the China Analyst for The Voice of the Martyrs. Documentary evidence will be presented; such as video footage portraying the dramatic destruction of a church building (Click here to view the footage at PersecutionTV).
Pray that the truth will be presented and accepted by those in attendance. Pray that this meeting will be used to draw further international attention to the plight of the Church in China. As China seeks increasing international trade relations, pray that the international community will put pressure on the government to stop these clear violations of the rights of Chinese citizens.
For more information on persecution in China,click here.
Christians Released While Others Face Trial
After ten days in custody, Bishop Wei Jingyi was released on the afternoon of March 14, according to AsiaNews sources. Bishop Wei is a leader in the underground Catholic Church in China which insists on allegiance to the Pope, contrary to the policies of the Chinese government. He was arrested at a tollbooth as he was returning from meeting foreign friends at the Harbin airport (click here for more details). His foreign visitors, both from France, were also detained but then released. According to one source, the authorities detained him because they were not pleased that he was meeting with foreigners. It is believed that he was released, at least in part, because of the strong international pressure, including an appeal from the Vatican.

^{Liu Fenggang}
The Voice of the Martyrs has also learned that the trial for three house church leaders began on March 16. Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi are accused of providing intelligence to foreign organizations. According to a March 17 report from China Aid Association, the secret trial lasted three hours and the accused are now awaiting the verdict.
When family members tried to attend the trial, they were prevented by police. Ms. Li Mingzhi and Ms. Ye Jifei arrived at the courthouse only to be detained for three hours and then escorted to the train station to be returned to their home provinces thousands of miles away.

^{Dr. Xu Yonghai & Li Shanna in the remains of their house}
Ms. Li Shanna, the wife of Dr Xu Yonghai, was escorted by police from Beijing to Hangzhou to have a "tour" of the city, thus preventing her from attending the trial. According to one source, the three were accused of leaking information about a court case in 2000 to an overseas magazine, "Christian Life Quarterly," which prosecutors called an "evil cult" magazine.
In a positive development, Deborah Xu Yongling was released on bail on March 15, following intensive international pressure, including from the US State Department. She has been warned to not leave her village for the next six months until formal charges have been filed.
These incidents took place as China's National People's Congress debated enshrining human rights in China's constitution. An amendment passed on March 14 simply states, "the state respects and preserves human rights," without giving any details on what that means. VOM spokesman, Glenn Penner, said, "Without clear definitions of what rights are being protected, this amendment is meaningless. We urge the international community to push for the establishment of true civil and religious liberties in China."
Pray that China will begin to respect the rights of its citizens and stop the oppression of those who do not adopt Communist dogma. Pray that Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi will be released.
We encourage you to submit polite letters to your national government leaders and to Chinese authorities, expressing your concern for these and other Christians imprisoned in China. The release of Bishop Wei and Deborah Xu are examples that international pressure can effect change. For addresses of government leaders in Canada and USA, as well as Chinese embassies, go to https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm.
For more information on persecution facing Christians in China,click here.
Church Leaders Under Siege
This week the Voice of the Martyrs received a number of reports demonstrating the Chinese government's continued campaign against Christian who refuse to compromise with their Communist ideology.
House Church Leaders Confirmed in Custody or Prosecuted
On February 18, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported the arrest of Xu Yongling (also known as Deborah Xu) on January 25. It is now confirmed that she is being held by the Henan National Security Bureau. On March 5, she was allowed to finally contact her relatives and expressed concern that false promises may be used by police to trap her nephew. She warned her relatives, "Please be very careful of your decision." The home of her nephew was raided by Nanyang police the next day.

^{Xu Yonghai}
^{Lui Fenggang}
Three Christian leaders recently detained have now been formally prosecuted, facing trial for "providing intelligence to overseas organizations." Liu Fenngang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi were arrested late 2003. Liu's wife received official notification of the charges in late February. Referring to the charges they face, Bob Fu from China Aid Association said, "There are no state secrets in this story. These men were arrested for telling the truth about how their government treats Christians. The government does not want that truth to be known."
Please pray for these and many other Christians in China imprisoned for their faith. Pray for spiritual strength for churches left without their pastoral leadership. Pray for provision for the families of those arrested.

Church Leader Re-Arrested; Another in Hiding
On March 1, Zeng Guangbo tried to cross the border from China to Russia to minister in a house church there. Instead, he was detained in customs and then taken into custody by the Nanyang Public Security Bureau. Zeng was originally arrested on January 25, but managed to escape and went into hiding. For more details, click here. Apparently Zeng's passport number had been entered into the national custom's computer system, resulting in his recent arrest.
Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association, expressed deep concern for Zeng. "The police in Nanyang are notorious for their brutality towards house church Christians. Because Zeng has been closely working with the 'Born-again' Movement leader Ms. Xu Yongling, the police may use whatever means necessary including torture to get information from him."
Pray for endurance and courage for Zeng during his continuing ordeal. Pray that he will know the presence of Christ's Spirit with him each day.
When Public Security Bureau officers raided his house church on February 9, Chu Wei and his wife, Yin Yan-ling, were interrogated for a day, along then ten other church members, before they were released. The next day, Yin was again taken to the police station where she was ordered to not speak about God, even in the privacy of her home. She also overheard police talking about sending her husband to a camp for "re-education through labour." She immediately warned her husband and they went into hiding. Their two oldest children (14 and 15) remained in the family home, while the youngest (11) stayed with relatives. Yin has since returned to be with her children, but Chu remains in hiding from the police.
Pray that Chu will not be arrested, but will be able to resume his ministry to the Chinese Church. Pray for his protection for his family.
Catholic Bishop Arrested
According to Zenit. Bishop Wei Jingyi of the underground Catholic Church was arrested on March 5 in Heilogjiang in northeast China. Wei was returning from meeting friends at the Harbin airport when he was arrested at a toll booth. Wei (45) has been arrested twice and served time labour camps from 1987-1989 and 1990-1992.
For current in-depth analysis of the situation facing Christians in China, you may want to purchase the following resources available online from the Voice of the Martyrs: "Jesus in Beijing" by David Aikman and "The Cross: Jesus in China," a four-DVD set of interviews and reports recently filmed in China. Visit our online catalog.
For more information on persecution facing Christians in China,click here.
House Church Leaders' Cases Still Pending

Xu Yonghai and Liu Fenggang
The Voice of the Martyrs (Canada) has learned that, contrary to recent reports, house church leaders Liu Fenggang and Xu Yonghai have not been sentenced to life in prison. Rather their cases are still pending in the court. Liu and Xu have been charged with "providing national intelligence to overseas organizations."
Liu Fenggang was arrested in Hangzhou on October 13, and his home was searched on October 15, leading to the confiscation of two computers, his address book, cameras, documents and other items. Based on some of the material found in the search, Xu Yonghai and his wife were arrested on the night of November 9, and although Li Shanna was released six hours later, her husband has remained in detention ever since.
Pray for the lawyers of these two men as they prepare their defense. Pray for their families during this time of uncertainty. Pray that God would strengthen Liu and Xu and reveal His presence to them.
For more information on persecution in China,click here.

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^{Xu Yonghai}	^{Lui Fenggang}