Eight House Church Leaders Detained in China
by Staff
July 5, 2007
(christiansunite.com) - The Voice of the Martyrs has learned that eight house church leaders have been recently arrested and are being detained in Shandong and Shaanxi provinces of China.According to China Aid Association (CAA), at 10:30 a.m., June 9, 2007, twelve church leaders were arrested while they were distributing Bibles in a market place in Jiaocheng county, Shaanxi province. Four of them were released the same day and another six were released on June 15 but without any legal papers or explanation from the PSB. The other two detained pastors, Zhou Jieming and Niu Wenbin have been accused of being part of an "evil cult" and obstructing "the enforcement of the law" and put in criminal detention.
On June 10 and 12, their houses were searched without search warrants being presented. Eyewitnesses report that many Bibles and other Christian literature were confiscated. The PSB officers told the family members of the detained pastors that "any religious activities without permission from the government Religious Affairs Bureau are regarded as evil cult activities." Church leaders fear that these two detained pastors could be sentenced to up to three years of re-education through labour.
Meanwhile, CAA also reports that since June 15 2007, six house church leaders in Shandong province have been detained. Church sources told CAA that at 4:00 pm on June 15, six house church leaders were taken away by the PSB during a house church worship service at Zhangba village, Wulou town, Cao county. Among them were Pastor Zhang Gaiming (43) and Pastor Sun Qingwen (43), both of whom are from Shangqiu county, Shandong province.
The other four pastors are local house church pastors. They include Ms. Peng Yufeng (42) and Pastor Zhao Yongsheng (50). The names of the other two detainees are not yet available. All of the six are being detained in Cao County Detention center. They have been threatened with being sent to re-education through labour camp if they refuse to pay 10,000 yuan ($1400 CAD).
Pray for the release of these church leaders. Pray that they will faithfully witness to God's grace to those around them in prison. Pray for their families as they await news of the plight of their loved ones.
For more information on persecution in China, go to www.persecution.net/country/china.htm.
