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China

• House churches raided, Christians arrested

  Chinese officials have raided house church meetings and arrested believers throughout the country in recent weeks, according to reports from ChinaAid.

  A house church was raided and eight Christians arrested in the A'Ler Tai area of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on July 3. Two of the arrested believers have been released. At last report, four remained detained in an undisclosed location and the whereabouts of two arrested Chinese American missionaries were unknown.

  On July 5, officials raided a house church worship service in Dongyong city, Shandong province. Believers were accused of "disturbing social order" for organizing a religious service for more than 40 people in a home. The house church was abolished by the authorities.

  At approximately 10:30 a.m. on July 13, local police and security officers surrounded a youth camp in Hubin town, Tengzhou city, Shandong province and arrested 32 Christians, including youth and adult church workers. Property was confiscated from the Christians, including electronic equipment, Bibles and cell phones. Police told the Christian leaders, "It is forbidden for those under 18 to believe Christianity, and even those above 18 years old are not allowed to organize or participate in religious activities without permission." The Christian youth were taken to the police station where they were interrogated, threatened and beaten before they were released. The five Christians who organized the camp, including a 16-year-old, remained in detention at last report. They were without food or water for two days. On July 14, the five were given administrative detention sentences of up to 15 days for "engaging in illegal activities."

  Pray for the release of those detained. Ask God to give Christians in Shandong the endurance to stand firm despite the opposition. Pray that the love and peace of Jesus Christ will be exemplified by Christians in Xinjiang, where ethnic violence recently erupted between Han Chinese and Uyghurs.

  For more information on the persecution of Chinese Christians, check out the China Country Report.

• Update: Chinese couple sentenced for ''engaging in illegal religious activities''

  Pastor Dou's friends gather to pray outside the prison Photo from ChinaAid

  Pastor Dou Shaowen, who was arrested by officials on June 14 (click here for more details) has been given a one year sentence of "re-education" through labour, according to a July 1 report from ChinaAid. Pastor Dou's wife, Feng Lu, received the same sentence. While Pastor Dou is currently imprisoned in a labour camp, authorities have permitted Feng Lu to serve her sentence at home so she can care for their 12-year-old daughter. However, officials informed her that she will be sent to the camp if she is discovered engaging in further "illegal religious activities." The believers who were given 15-day administrative sentences following the June 14 house church attack have not yet been released at last report.

  To learn more about the persecution of Christians in China, visit theChina Country Report.

• Update: Three Christians released from detention in Shaanxi

  Three house church leaders that were arrested in Taochuan village, Shaanxi province on June 14 for "illegal religious activities" (click here for more details) have been released, according to a June 27 report from ChinaAid. Xu Fenying was released on June 19 and Liu Caili and Huang Shumin were released on June 24. The three have filed an administrative lawsuit against the Luonan County Public Security Bureau of Shaanxi Province on the grounds that the authorities had no legal basis to confiscate their literature or subject them to fines and detention.

  To learn more about the persecution of Christians in China,click here.

• Update: House church leaders released in Sichuan

  The house church leaders arrested in Langzhong city, Sichuan province on June 9 (read the details) have been released following international pressure, according to a June 26 report from ChinaAid. Thirteen of the leaders served 10 days of administrative detention and were released on June 20. The five leaders placed in criminal detention were released on June 23.

  To learn more about the persecution of Christians in China,click here.

• Update: Christian woman released in Zhejiang province

  The church before the destruction Photo from ChinaAid

  According to a June 18 report from ChinaAid, a Christian woman sentenced in December 2006 to three and a half years in prison for protesting the government's destruction of a church building in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang province (click here for more information), was released on March 4. Shen Zhuke is the last of eight Christians detained following the demolition to be released.

  To learn more about the faithfulness of Chinese believers who face ongoing persecution,click here.

• House churches attacked

  The entrance of the house church in Zhengzhou City Photo from ChinaAid

  At approximately 9:15 a.m. on June 14, several dozen officials from the Municipal Bureaus of Religion and State Security broke into a house church in Zhengzhou City, Henan province, China, and arrested several believers, according to a June 23 report from ChinaAid. Officials read a notice stating that the believers had established a site for religious activities without approval. They then forcibly escorted Pastor Dou Shaowen and another believer to the Dashiqian Police Station. Officials searched Pastor Dou's home and seized a computer and other personal property. Some of the remaining believers insisted on finishing their worship service, even though authorities cut off the electricity, took videos and photos of them and demanded that they leave. After the service, several Christians were brought to the police station for interrogation and the church building was sealed. Six Christians were given 15-day detentions and were ordered to pay fines of 800-900 Yuan (approximately $135-$150 CAD).

  Three house church leaders in Taochuan village, Shaanxi province were also arrested on June 14 and given 10-day sentences for engaging in "illegal religious activities," according to a June 18 report from ChinaAid. The arrest of the leaders, one man and two women, is the latest in a series of actions to shut down the house church and confiscate the building. On June 2-4, members of the congregation were summoned to the police station where they were interrogated. On June 5, a public notice from the Luonan County Bureau of Religion was posted on the church's gate which stated that the church was abolished. However, the believers continued to gather for worship at the church's gate despite pressure and threats from authorities.

  Pray for the release of the imprisoned believers. Ask God to strengthen Christians in China to continue honouring Him at any cost.

  To find out more about China's suffering Christians, go to theChina Country Report.

• Update: Shi Weihan receives three year prison sentence

  Shi Weihan and his family Photo from ChinaAid

  China June 11, Shi Weihan (38), a Christian bookstore owner and house church lefader, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 150,000 Yuan (approximately $2,500 CAD) for "illegally" printing and distributing Christian literature, according to a June 11 report from ChinaAid. The time that Weihan has spent in prison since he was first arrested in November 2007 (click here for more details) will reportedly be considered part of his three-year sentence. Six others believed to be shareholders and executives of the printing company which printed the Bibles that Weihan distributed also stood trial and received criminal sentences.

  To learn more about the faithfulness of persecuted believers in China, visit theChina Country Report.

• House church leaders arrested in Sichuan

  Pastor Li Ming Photo from ChinaAid

  On June 9, several dozen Chinese officials from the Domestic Security Protection Squad barged into the home of Pastor Li Ming in Langzhong city, Sichuan province, where more than 30 house church leaders were gathered, according to a June 12 report from ChinaAid. Pastor Li's home was searched and all of the believers arrested. Thirteen of the leaders were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention. Five other leaders, including Pastor Li, were placed under criminal detention and are likely to face formal criminal indictment or up to three years of "re-education through labour." The remaining leaders have been released.

  Ask God to give wisdom and guidance to the imprisoned leaders and their families. Pray for an end to crackdowns against believers in China.

  For more information on China's suffering Christians, check outChina's Country Report.

• Pastor Hua Huiqi beaten by authorities

  Photo from ChinaAid

  On the morning of June 5, Pastor Hua Huiqi was arrested by police officers from Shanxi province and Beijing when he was transferring trains at the Taiyuan Railroad Station in Shanxi, according to a June 9 report from ChinaAid. Hua was taken to a hotel and severely beaten by officials. One of the officials reportedly said to him: "I'm going to strangle you and I'd like to see whether you can still preach the Gospel.... Our Domestic Security Protection Squad is specially set up here to suppress you Jesus believers." The officials also threatened to arrest both him and his wife. He was released on June 7 and, at last report, was being treated for his injuries at his home in Beijing.

  Pray for healing for Pastor Hua. Pray for protection for him and his family. Pray that his attackers will turn to faith in Christ and become a demonstration of God's love and mercy to others (1 Timothy 1:16).

  Learn more about how Christians are persecuted in China.

• Pastor banned from church in Tianjin province

  Pastor Han Changxu Photo from ChinaAid

  On May 16, the Office for Religious Affairs in Jinghai county, Tianjin province, China issued a notice abolishing the Immanuel Church and banning Pastor Han Changxu from serving there, according to a May 29 report from ChinaAid. Pastor Han, an ethnic Korean and native of Heilongjiang province, has been serving in the church since 2004. During the 2008 Olympics, authorities in Tianjin placed Pastor Han under surveillance when they discovered he had contacts with missionaries from South Korea. Authorities have also tried to prevent him from maintaining contact with churches in South Korea.

  Ask God to give encouragement and guidance to members of the Immanuel Church. Pray that Pastor Han will be free to continue his ministry without opposition. Pray that Christians in China will find comfort in knowing that endurance in trials leads to godly character and hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:3-5).

  For more information on the suffering of Christians in China,click here.