Members of Raided Church Detained

On March 10th, the members of the Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui province, were gathered at a restaurant when their meeting was suddenly raided by local police. Without showing identification or giving reasons for the raid, the police began interrogating the Christians. Officials from the local religious affairs bureau, along with national security agents, also entered the restaurant and began taking pictures.

After questioning the believers who had attended the gathering, the authorities took 18 Christians, including two children, to the police station. The interrogation continued until well after midnight before Elder Chang Shun was given a 15-day administrative detention for "carrying out activities in the name of an illegal social organization." This is the third time that Elder Chang has been detained within the past six months. Additionally, as a result of the raid, eight other church members were each given a 13-day detention.

After learning of Elder Chang's detention, his wife, Li Yunyan, released a letter calling for prayer and expressing deep concern for her husband. The couple's children, unable to grasp what was happening, asked their mother, "Why do they have to take Daddy? Daddy is not a bad person." For more information on the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters in China, go to our country report.

Prayerfully uphold the members of this persecuted church as they contend with ongoing oppression because of their desire to meet together for worship. Pray specifically for Elder Chang and his family, along with the other recently detained church members and their loved ones, asking that each of these believers would receive the encouragement, strength, courage and perseverance they need to remain undeterred by the governmental opposition. May God also work mightily in the lives of the Chinese Communist Party officials, turning their hearts towards repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.