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  • Catholic Priests Arrested The systematic attack on churches by the Chinese government continued on October 20 with the arrest of approximately twelve underground Roman Catholic priests and seminarians as they met for a retreat in the Hebei province. According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, they are being held in the detention house of Gaocheng County. Those arrested include Father Li Wenfeng, age 31, Father Liu Heng, age 29, Father Dou Shengxia, age 37, Chen Rongfu, age 21, Han Jianlu, age 24, and Zhang Chongyou, age 23.

    This attack appears to be part of a coordinated effort by the authorities against the underground church. On May 28, an Catholic expert in Chinese affairs published an article in the Italian newspaper, Avvenire, outlining three Chinese government directives specifically aimed at the Catholic Church, particularly to sever ties with the Vatican. The Chinese government is recently stepping up efforts to strengthen the communist grip on religion while defending their religious practices.

    On October 22, the South China Morning Post published an article outlining new efforts to defend and promote atheism in order to curtail the rapid growth of religious activities in China. On the same day, religious leaders were speaking at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. about freedom of religion in China. According to Rev. Cao Shengjie, president of the China Christian Council, "The Chinese government is doing a better and better job of ensuring freedom of religious belief." They deny the existence of an underground church in China as well as denying persecuting the church. They claim that there are only a limited number of unregistered churches in China.

    Pray for the release of those recently arrested. Pray for the millions of Christians throughout China facing daily persecution and the fear of arrest. Pray that this increasing persecution will cease. Pray that world leaders will not be seduced by the deceptive words of the Chinese authorities and their statements, but that will hold the Chinese government accountable for their actions.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, visit the China Country Report.
  • Church Leaders Face Possible Death Sentence as Wife is Released

     Zhang Yi-nan
    Zhang Yi-nan

    Xiao Bi-guang and family
    Xiao Bi-guang and family

    Two church leaders arrested by the Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) are facing charges of "conspiracy to subvert the national government and socialist system." If convicted, Xiao Bi-guang and Zhang Yi-nan face a minimum sentence of five years in prison and could be sentenced to death.

    Xiao and Zhang were arrested on September 26 (For more details on the arrest, click here). Zhang's wife, Ding Guizhen, was also arrested on September 28 but was released on October 11. As she was being ushered from the prison, she was served with the official notification of her husband's arrest, including the charges they face.

    On October 21, Xiao's wife, Gou Qinghui, finally received official notification of the charges against her husband. According to Chinese law, family members must be notified within twenty-four hours of an arrest. It is believed that this notification came only as a result of international pressure on the authorities. The official excuse given for the delay was that the authorities claim that Xiao gave them the given the wrong address during his interrogation.

    Until Gou received official notification, she was unable to hire a lawyer to defend her husband. She has now done so and the attorneys plan to visit the Detention Center of Lushan County in Henan Province, where Xiao is being held, later this week. According to the official document that she finally received, Xiao is being charged with "subverting the national government."

    We thank God for the release of Ding Guizhen and the official notification of the charges. Pray that international pressure against the Chinese government and its policy of religious persecution will continue. Pray for the lawyers planning a defense and for the family members of Xiao and Zhang.
  • Another Christian Arrested

    Liu Fenggang
    Liu Fenggang

    On October 16, The Voice of the Martyrs learned of the arrest of a Beijing house-church member, Liu Fenggang, by Public Security Bureau (PSB) authorities in Zhejiang Province, China. The exact time and place of his arrest are unknown, but he had been traveling to meet with underground church leaders, including some recently released from custody.

    On October 15, Zhejiang PSB officers, along with Beijing police, raided Liu's home, confiscating two computers, his address book, cameras, documents and other items. PSB officers are using the address book, along with numbers stored on Liu's cellular phone, to contact those listed. PSB officers told his wife, Bi Yu-xia, that her husband was facing charges of "leaking national secrets" to those outside of China. They informed her that he is held in "soft detention" rather than criminal detention. However, she was not given the official documents needed to hire an attorney.

    The Voice of the Martyrs has learned the phone and fax numbers for the Xiao-Shan PSB office, which is believed to have ordered the arrest of Brother Liu. We particularly encourage Chinese-speaking believers to contact them to politely express your concern for Liu. The phone number, from North America, is 011-86-571-82622514. The fax number is 011-86-571-82377550. We also encourage you to contact the Chinese embassy in your country. Contact information for Canada, USA, and the UN is available on our website at https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm.
  • Arrested Believers Located

    A VOM source has discovered the location of three Chinese Christians arrested on September 26-27 (click here for more details on the arrest). According to the source, Xio Bi-guang, Zhang Yi-nan, and Zhang's wife, Ding Guizhen, are being held at the Detention Center of Lushan County in Henan Province. Local officials have not been permitted to question them as the case is being handled by the provincial Public Security Bureau (PSB) and the Bureau of State Security, the Chinese equivalent of the CIA. This suggests that the authorities consider these prisoners to be important leaders in the house church movement.

    Despite a law requiring that family members be officially notified of arrests within twenty-four hours, as of last Saturday, none of the families had received official word of the arrests. VOM contacts were able to inform Xio's wife, Gou Qinghu, of her husband's whereabouts. She is planning to hire lawyers to launch a formal inquiry into his case.

    Zhang is reportedly been fasting and praying since his arrest and remains very strong, spiritually. Continue to pray for those arrested, as well as family members and friends. Pray that they will have a positive influence on those detaining them. Pray also for their release.

    VOM has learned the phone number of the PSB office overseeing the Detention Center of Lushan County. We encourage Christians, especially those who speak Chinese, to call in support of these Christians. The number to call from U.S.A. and Canada is 011-86-375-5071209. We also encourage you to contact the Chinese embassy in your country to politely raise your concerns. For contact information for Canada, U.S.A. and the UN, go to https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm.
  • Death Sentences Lifted for South China Church Leaders

    The Voice of the Martyrs learned this morning that leaders of the South China Church have had their sentences reduced after a retrial ordered by the Hubei Province Supreme Court.

    A report received from our U.S. mission reported that four of the church leaders were declared innocent and released immediately. SCC founder Gong Shengliang and two other men, Xiu Fuming and Hu Yong , were sentenced to life in prison. They had been facing execution. Journalist Li Ying, the SCC's second-in-command and the publisher of an underground church magazine, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, along with Bang Kun Gong. In the original trial, Li Ying was given a death sentence.

    During the retrial, the court dropped all "evil cult" charges against the South China Church leaders. One judge told members of Pastor Gong's family privately that he should be released.

    "This is obviously a step in the right direction," said Gary Lane, U.S. spokesman for The Voice of the Martyrs, "but it doesn't end the injustice. These men and women are not criminals. They are Christians, serving the Lord and worshipping as they see fit."

    The retrial comes as Chinese President Jiang Zemin prepares to visit the United States later this month. He will be meeting with President Bush and other US leaders.

    "This is clearly a public relations move by the Chinese," said Lane. "It is a gift for President Bush in advance of Jiang's trip. But public relations moves don't address the brutality and injustice that Christians face in China every single day. Our hope is that President Bush will forcefully and honestly raise this issue during Jiang's visit." According to the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, based in Hong Kong, the church leaders plan to appeal their sentences.

    The SCC leaders have faced harsh treatment in prison. According to VOM sources, the court ruled that the prisoners are forbidden to have Bibles, and copies of the Scripture sent by their families have been confiscated. In addition, they have been forbidden to pray out loud in their cells. Other inmates have been ordered to interrupt their prayers and not allow them, and to report any prayers to prison officers. Some of the SCC leaders have also been severely beaten in prison.

    While The Voice of the Martyrs rejoices with the families of those who have been released, we encourage Christians from around the world to continue to uphold in prayer those who remain in prison and to continue to write letters to Chinese embassies on behalf of Pastor Gong, Li Ying and the others who are still in prison.
  • Three More Christians Arrested

    Two Christians were arrested on Friday and a third on Sunday in Ping Ding Shan, Henan Province, China. According to VOM sources, more than twenty Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers arrested Xiao Bi-guang and Zhang Yi-nan on Friday morning. On Sunday, Zhang's wife, Ding Guizhen was arrested at the hospital where she worked as a doctor.

    The whereabouts of Xiao and Zhang are unknown and the families have received no official notification. Ding is currently being held in the PSB office. The home of Zhang and Ding was also searched and various possessions were confiscated, including computers and books.

    Xiao is an active member of a Beijing house church and had served three years in a labour camp for providing "spiritual aid" for an independent labour union. Xiao's wife was previously a theology teacher at the state-approved Beijing Theological Seminary until it was learned that she was involved in an unregistered house church.

    Zhang is a church historian for the underground churches in China and has been one of the main writers for the Unity Movement, which includes four major unregistered house church groups in China.

    Please pray for the release of Xiao Bi-guang, Zhang Yi-nan and Ding Guizhen. Pray for an assurance of Christ's presence with them. Pray for protection for thousands of other Christians worshipping in secret throughout China.

    We encourage you to contact the Chinese embassy in your country and urge them to release these believers. For contact information for embassies in Canada and the UN, visit our website at https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm.
  • Church Destroyed, Three Women Arrested

    A church building in Wenzhou, China was destroyed by police early on September 10. According to a reports received by VOM a large group of officials from the Public Security Bureau, the local Agrarian Bureau, town officials, reporters and others arrived. Using cutting torches and hammers, workers cut the iron supports and the walls were pounded until most of the building collapsed. When one Christian tried to intervene, he was dragged from the building. Three women were arrested and sentenced to 5-7 days' detention for opposing the destruction. There are concerns that they may be physically abused while in jail by inmates and police. VOM sources have learned the names of two of the women being detained: Mi Xiang and Ai Hong.

    The government officials said that the building was destroyed because it was built without permission and was being used for illegal gatherings. The church acknowledges that they did not have permission to build the meeting hall, but many other buildings in the area were also built without permission and have been left standing.

    Pray for the safety of these three women while they are in detention. Pray for the continued ministry of the church in China, as it faces increasing pressure from government officials. Pray for strength for the many suffering in prison for their faith.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, visit theChina Country Report.
  • International Pressure Leads to Prisoner Release

    On August 27, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported that three of six house church leaders arrested by Chinese authorities had been released (see https://www.vomcanada.com/pnparchive/arch3.htm). International pressure is being credited for the release of the remaining three leaders a few days later. In a phone interview with a VOM representative, one of those released, Gao Chong-Dao, said, "It was very clear that there was outside pressure [on our behalf]." Among the pressure was the publication by VOM in Canada and the United States of the hotel fax number where the men were being held.

    While being held at the Kai Yuan Cheng Shi Hotel, the men were subjected to repeated interrogation and so-called "political study" - brainwashing attempts. Gao told VOM that, even though they have been released, they know that they are being watched and face a constant threat of being re-arrested.

    Pray for these and many other Christians in China facing harassment, prison, torture, and death for the cause of Christ. Pray that they will remain faithful to their calling in ministering to those around them. Thank you to all of those who prayed and faxed letters of concern on behalf of these men. VOM spokesman, Glenn Penner, said, "It is gratifying to see how the response of Christians around the world can make this kind of impact. This is why we spend the time and resources to put together email news services like the Persecution and Prayer Alert."

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, click here.
  • House Church Raided; 170 Arrested

    As we received the news that some Christians were being released, a report was received from Asia Harvest on September 2 that a house church in Nanyang County, Henan Province, was raided by Public Security Bureau officers. The 170 Christians at the service were fingerprinted, fined, and released and fourteen leaders were detained and face more serious charges. These leaders face the possibility of torture and prison.

    Nanyang County is one of the strongest Christian areas in China with perhaps 40-50% of the population believing in Christ. It is also one of the areas facing some of the most severe persecution.

    Pray for spiritual and physical strength for the leaders arrested. Pray that they will be a testimony to their captors. Pray for the ongoing ministry of their church. Pray that the testimony for Christ will remain strong in Nanyang County.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, click here.
  • Three Christians Released; Others Held

    The Voice of the Martyrs has learned that three of the six house church leaders arrested on July 13 (click here) were released this week. Those released report that they were held in a hotel and subjected to repeated questioning and brainwashing. They were released only when they said they would speak to their congregations about registering their church with the government. They were warned that they would be rearrested if the congregations were not registered.

    Three men are still being held but were moved to a different hotel when news of their arrest reached the international community. The three still being held are Shen Shao-Cheng, Gao Chong-Dao, and Xiang Fa. Shen is over 80 years old.

    At last report, the men were being held at the Kai Yuan Cheng Shi Hotel, which can be reached by fax from North America at 011-86-571-82625217. We encourage Christians to send a fax of encouragement to those being held. Even if they do not receive the fax, it will let the authorities know that Christians around the world are concerned. We also encourage you to contact the Chinese embassy in your country. Contact information for Canada and the USA is available through our website at https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm.

    Continue to pray for physical, emotional, and spiritual strength for the men being held. Pray for house churches throughout China facing increasing pressure from the authorities.

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