Since late April, Chinese authorities have arrested at least a dozen pastors and house church leaders according to a May 15 report from China Aid Association. On April 26 in Shandong Province, Pastor Liu Yuhua was arrested and accused of "being involved in illegal business practices." Authorities have also seized his bank account and 8600 Yuan ($1200 CDN) in cash. Pastor Liu has been printing and distributing Bibles and Christian literature for fellow believers free of charge in order to meet the needs of the rapidly growing church in the region. In 2005, Pastor Cai Zhuohua was sentenced to three years in prison for a similar "crime."
On May 10, eleven pastors and house church leaders were arrested in Sugian City, Jiangsu Province after security officers broke up a Bible study in the home of Pastor Cai Zhirong. Approximately sixty Christians were in attendance at the time. According to eye-witness reports, police used electric shock batons on anyone who resisted arrest. Cui Rongbo, a South Korean pastor who was present at the meeting, was among those arrested. He was released later that day, along with his two translators, but was ordered to leave China within forty-eight hours.
Pray that Christians in China will be enabled to rejoice in their afflictions as they look forward to the time when Christ's glory will be revealed (1 Peter 4:12-13). Pray that these leaders will be released (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). Pray that the passion for Christ which these Chinese believers have will continue to be the light that draws others to Jesus (Matthew 5:14).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, go to the China Country Profile.
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