Church Leaders Detained in Raid

Early Rain Covenant Church 16 November 2023

Men sitting around a table. — Early Rain Covenant Church members.
Photo: ChinaAid

On the morning of November 9th, Elder Li Yingqiang – along with a few other church leaders from the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan Province – were visiting a new church that had been established in Dazhou, which is about 400 kilometres away. There, the believers of the two churches worshipped together, held a baptismal service and shared communion. However, this special service was abruptly interrupted when police from multiple departments forcefully entered the building.

While a total of 13 Christians had been taken to a police station that day, 11 of them were released in the evening. However, the police held Elder Li and Hou Duoshu, the leader of the Good Soil church plant, in custody overnight. The next day, Li was sentenced to ten days of detention, along with a fine. Even though Hou was sentenced to five days' detention, it was not enforced because of his poor physical condition.

In a recent episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, host Greg Musselman was joined by guest Dr. Eric Foley from The Voice of the Martyrs Korea to discuss the Chinese Communist Party's push towards integrated faith and political ideologies – another attempt of the socialist government to enforce its demands for total loyalty from the people of China. We encourage you to listen to this informative discussion at VOMCanada.com/video/china-foley. Further details on the persecution of Christians in China, along with additional reports, are available at our website.

Please continue to prayerfully remember Elder Li, as well as the many other believers who are facing relentless persecution from Communist officials for remaining committed in their allegiance to Christ. Pray that China's church leaders will stand firm by upholding the truth of God's Word, regardless of the demands imposed upon them from governing authorities. In doing so, may the hearts of the opposing officials be radically transformed, allowing the ministry of the Early Rain and Good Soil churches to proclaim the Gospel among the many spiritually searching members of their communities before our Lord's imminent return.

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.

China News

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Elder Xue Shaoqiang and Sister
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Photo: ChinaAid

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Pastor Huang Yizi
Photo: ChinaAid

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Pastor Chang Shun with one of his children.
Photo: ChinaAid

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