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.