Churches Raided, Leaders Arrested and Bible School Closed

14 May 2008

Photo from China Aid

In several locations throughout China, churches were raided and several Christians were detained in recent weeks, according to reports from China Aid Association received on May 8, 12 and 14.

On May 3, four house church leaders -- Ms. Qioa Lei (24), Ms. Wang Qin (24), Mr. Cao Guanggen and Mr. Gin -- were arrested and detained in Yantun village, Shandong province. Lei and Qin were accused of being "evil cult members." Also in Shandong, on May 8, Pastor Zhang Yongliang and his parents were detained on charges of "obstructing justice" when members of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) raided a meeting of over 30 church leaders in Qingahou city, labeling it as an "illegal gathering."

On May 9, Pastor Dong Yatao, one of the leaders of the Beijing City Revival Church, was arrested by PSB members while he was on his way to obtain a shipment of Bibles. He was detained on charges of "receiving illegally printed Bibles and religious literature." That same day, a worship service at Shouwang Church in Beijing was interrupted by police officials who declared the meeting an "illegal gathering." They ordered the church to stop its activities and forced congregants to leave the premises.

On May 12, a house church meeting in the city of Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang province was raided by security officials who claimed it was an "illegal gathering" and distributed papers stating its official closure.

On May 14, a Bible school located in the city of Sanhe, Hebei province was raided by approximately 30 security officers. Three computer hard disks were taken, and the more than 100 students from various provinces in China enrolled in the school were ordered to return to their hometowns.

Pray for the release of those detained. Pray that God will give those in prison opportunity to share the Gospel (Colossians 4:2,3). Ask God to provide wisdom and guidance to leaders of the churches and the Bible school facing government opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25).

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in China, click here.

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.

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