According to a March 21 report from China Aid Association, sixteen house church leaders are being detained after two raids by Chinese authorities in the past week.
On March 20, Pastor Lian Changnian was leading a Bible study for over one hundred believers when the meeting in Xiantao City, Hubei Province was raided. Pastor Lian is being detained in the Xiantao City detention centre.
Fifteen house church leaders, including a 15-year-old girl, are also being detained after a meeting of sixty house church leaders was raided in Wen County, Henan Province. According to the testimonies from the forty-five who were released, all the prisoners were treated badly. All were tortured with electric shock batons. Pastor Li Gongshe (51) is in hospital with a broken rib because of the beatings. Of the prisoners still detained, the whereabouts of six are unknown. Church leaders fear that the beatings may have been so severe that police are trying to prevent family visits. Those missing are Ms. Ma Wenqing (72), Ms. Zhang Jinzhi (44), Mr. Zhang Liang (24), Ms. Zhang Suihong (35), Ms. Xian Guirong (38), Ms. Wei Rongzhen (43).
Pray that our brothers and sisters will be able to rejoice in knowing that it is a privilege to suffer for Christ's sake. Pray that the Lord would bring verses of Scripture and hymns of praise to their minds. Pray that those who have been released will be protected from any further harassment. Ask God to protect those who are in prison and give them strength in their afflictions.
For more information on China and the persecution of Christians there, click here.
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