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Chinese authorities continue to target underground church leader Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan and his family, according to reports from China Aid Association. At noon on October 16, while Pastor Zhang was away from home, approximately 15 Public Security Bureau officials barged into his and his wife’s legally rented apartment and began throwing their belongings out into the street. His wife, Xie Fenglan, urgently phoned their oldest son, Zhang Jian, for help. Jian arrived to find authorities knocking his mother to the ground. When he tried to shield her from their blows, he was beaten with iron bars. Xie Fenglan phoned for an ambulance, but was informed that a government-issued order forbade dispatching one for relatives of Pastor Zhang. She then phoned her other son, Zhang Chuang, for help. When he arrived, he too was beaten by the officials. A family friend eventually brought Jian to the hospital where he regained consciousness. He suffered a broken nose and may never regain sight in his right eye. Jian left the hospital with Chuang because PSB officials were watching him. However, the brothers continued to be threatened by officials and were warned not to leave Chuang's apartment until a Chinese House Church Alliance celebration, scheduled for October 20 and organized by their father, was over.
It is suspected that Pastor Zhang has been detained by authorities. Police recently used garbage to block the entryway to the church building where he preaches. Xie Fenglan was evicted from their home and at last report has been residing with another house church leader because authorities ordered hotels to refuse her shelter.
Pray for the Zhang family as they face many trials for their faith in Christ. Pray for an end to the crackdowns on Chinese Christians (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4).
For more information on the plight of Chinese Christians, visit the China Country Report.
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