Updates on Recent Reports from China

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Bishop Jia Zhiguo
Bishop Jia Zhiguo

(a) On April 14, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the arrest of Catholic Bishop Jia Zhiguo on April 5 (click here for more details). Praise God that he was released on the afternoon of April 14.

(b) On March 31, VOM reported that key Chinese leaders were meeting with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva to report on the atrocities committed by the Chinese government against Christians. (click here for more information).

Based on these testimonies and others, the United States sponsored a motion to censure China for its human rights record. In response, China introduced a "no-action" motion to block discussion. This tactic was approved, with twenty-eight members voting with China and only sixteen voting against. Click here for a list of member countries and their vote. It is significant to note that the majority of countries who voted with China are those with less then stellar human rights records. Click here to check out VOM's country reports.

 Lin Bocheng
Lin Bocheng

This was the eleventh time that China has defeated such a motion since 1990. In response, the vice president of the government-authorized China Foundation for Human Rights Development, Lin Bocheng, said that the US-led resolution had disregarded the "remarkable progress" China had made in human rights. Spokesman for The Voice of the Martyrs, Glenn Penner, remarked, "I am somewhat puzzled by what the Chinese governments means by 'progress.' Given the rise of reported cases of religious persecution in the last year, I suspect most Christians in China would define it rather differently."

Pray that international pressure will continue against the Chinese government. Pray that the day will come when Chinese Christians will be free to worship without government interference.

For more information on persecution 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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China News

  • Chen Wensheng Sentenced to 19 Months
    Chen Wensheng is smiling.
    Chen Wensheng
    Photo: ChinaAid

    Chen Wensheng is no stranger to arrests and police intimidation. A radically reformed former drug addict, the Christian evangelist has travelled throughout China to share his testimony, gaining the nickname of "Gospel Warrior." (See these other reports about this faithful believer.)

    Read more...

  • New Health Concerns for Elder Zhang Chunlei
    Zhang Chunlei with his wife
    Elder Zhang Chunlei and his wife
    Photo: ChinaAid

    Zhang Chunlei is an elder with the Ren'ai Reformed Church in Guiyang, China. He was detained in March 2021 and remained in detention without charge until his trial in November 2022, when he was accused of "inciting subversion of state power." The trial was held in secret, without any witnesses, and a verdict has never been announced since then. In the meantime, Elder Zhang continues to remain imprisoned. (Review previously published reports about this church leader's case.)

    Read more...

  • Persistent Harassment Against Church Deacons
    Ding Shuqi and Jia Xuewei
    Jia Xuewei (right) with his friend, Ding Shuqi
    Photo: ChinaAid

    In 2018, the Early Rain Covenant Church was violently raided by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities, resulting in multiple arrests. Since then, members of the church have continued to face harassment, including a church deacon named Jia Xuewei. Click here for previous reports on Jia's situation.

    Read more...

  • High Security for Trial
    Chen Wensheng is smiling.
    Evangelist Chen Wensheng
    Photo: ChinaAid

    The case of Chen Wensheng was heard by the Hengyang City Shigu District People's Court on April 18th. However, when Chen's relatives and friends arrived that morning to attend the trial, they found about 40 black-clad special force officers guarding the entrance of the court building. In addition, the entire street was blocked off under the pretext of performing a "drill" so that any supporters could be prevented from attending the trial. Despite aggressive actions by the police, Chen's supporters are reported to have demonstrated "patience and calmness."

    Read more...

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