Mysterious Disappearance of Church Affiliate

VOM Korea, Early Rain Covenant Church 14 March 2019

Worshipers meet outside. - Photo: ChinaAid www.chinaaid.org — Early Rain Covenant Church meets outside.
Photo: ChinaAid

Since the arrest of over 100 members of the Early Rain Covenant Church in December, authorities have continued to charge, detain and harass Christians associated with the church. For more information on the original raid, click here.

One member, Pan Fei, has been arrested several times since the original attack. After the first time he was detained, interrogated and released, he moved to a new home. Yet, he continued to be harassed by the local authorities who frequently broke into his residence.

Due to government pressure, Pan Fei was also fired from his job at the Yong Hui shopping mall. Early this month, he managed to find a new job. However, on March 4th, he mysteriously disappeared and, at last report, there had been no communication with friends or family. The Early Rain Covenant Church has requested prayer for him: "We pray fervently for this lamb who has been captured and separated from the Lord Jesus Christ's flock. May God's Spirit be with him and protect his body and soul!"

Please join with these church members in praying for Pan Fei. May he be protected from harm and safely returned to his concerned family and friends soon. Pray for the many other believers who are still being detained in prison -- including Pastor Wang Yi and his wife, both of whom have been accused of "inciting to subvert state power."

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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