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2.) China Cracks Down on Christians - Again
 
    Authorities recently carried out a massive crackdown on Christians. According to the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), police on May 22 simultaneously raided approximately 60 house churches in Changchun, the capital city of Jilin province in the nation's northeastern region.
 
    In the days following, an additional 40 churches in the area were also raided. More than 600 house-church believers and leaders were taken into custody. Most were released after 24 to 48 hours of interrogation, but approximately 100 leaders are still being held in different detention centers. About 20 boxes of Christian books were confiscated during the police raid.
 
    "This is clearly a major assault on unregistered house churches in Jilin province," VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton said. "The amount of man-power, coordination and planning involved in raiding 60 church meetings simultaneously shows this effort came from high levels of the Chinese government."
 
    One church pastor, Zhao Dianru, 58, was released June 6 after 15 days of "administrative detention." Dianru's arrest document accused him of "using other means to instigate and disturb social stability," but did not mention religion or church activities.
 
    China's new law on religion took effect March 1. Some believed the new law would lead to less restriction on unregistered churches, but the latest large-scale raids and arrests seem to show otherwise, VOM noted.
 
    "We urge Christians around the world to protest these illegal detentions," Nettleton said. "These Christians are not a threat to the Chinese government and they have not committed a crime. It's time for China to live up to the commitments and treaties it has signed on religious freedom."
 
    China is ranked ninth on Open Doors' World Watch List of countries where Christians are most severely persecuted. Since 1999, the U.S. State Department has designated China a "Country of Particular Concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act for particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
 
    Every month The Voice of the Martyrs reports on what is really happening around the world where our brothers and sisters are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Now you can receive a free subscription to The Voice of the Martyrs award winning monthly newsletter. You will be inspired, you will learn to pray and even discover practical ways to get involved. Sign up today.
 
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Major Crackdown on Christians in China Reported

Monday, August 8, 2005
By BosNewsLife News Center

BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Christian Freedom International (CFI), a leading human rights organization, expressed concern Monday, August 8, about "a major crackdown" on Christians in China.

"Communist China is--once again--cracking down on "house church" Christians," CFI said.

It quoted investigators as saying that since last May 22 police and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers raided about 100 house churches in the Jilin Province. "Almost 600 house church believers were taken into custody. Many were released after hours of intense interrogation, but about 100 of the leaders are still held in different detention centers," CFI said.

HOUSE CHURCHES

Also in May, some 20 house church leaders were arrested while conducting a Bible training lass in Shanxi Province, the organization claimed. "On June 24 about 100 pastors from several Major cities including Kaifeng, Xinxiang and Jiaozuo City were taken away and detained at Qi County Detention Center. After hours of intense interrogation many pastors were eleased. Nine of them, including Pastor Chen Dongming, Pastor Wei and Pastor Jin whose first names are not available, are still jailed."

Human rights watchers say this is the tip of the iceberg after earlier reports that the Chinese Communist authorities had issued a secret order to crack down on house churches, the reference to Christians who worship outside the state-run churches. "This is also a wakeup call to the world community that it's time to seriously reconsider its appeasing policies toward the issue of China's religious freedom," said Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association, another advocacy group.

UNREGISTERED GROUPS

"Members of unregistered religious groups, including Protestant and Catholic groups, are subject to restrictions, including intimidation, harassment, and detention. In some localities, "underground" religious leaders report ongoing pressure either to register with the State Administration for Religious Activities (SARA, formerly known as the central Religious Affairs Bureau) or its provincial and local offices, still known as Religious Affairs Bureaus (RAB), " CFI added.

They also report facing pressure to be affiliated with and supervised by official party organizations linked to the legally recognized churches, CFI said. "Some local officials in Henan Province often mistreat unregistered Protestants, and some local officials in Hebei Province tightly controlled Catholics loyal to the Vatican."

The United States State Department has since 1999 designated China as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations. Human rights groups say China's record on human rights will be a key test on whether it is able to organize the Olympic Games in 2008. CFI urged its supporters to write protest letters to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China 2300 Connecticut Ave NW Washington DC 20008.

Major Crackdown on Christians in China Reported (http://www.worthynews.com/christian-persecution/crackdown-christians.html)

I'm not saying this is Bible Prophecy being unfolded, but I am saying that it could be. There is a massive hunger for God's Word in China, and it is apparent there is and will be more and more persecution of Christians in China and around the world.

If one takes a hard look at what's happening around the world, many countries have and are turning away from God. YES - that includes America. Maybe we haven't turned as far away yet as many countries have, but increasingly bad signs are in the news almost every day now in America. AND, now the signs in America are beginning to include churches.

YES - it is conceivable that Christians will be persecuted in America. Please ask yourself a question - Has the persecution of Christians here already started? YES - it has!

NOW, please try to imagine the massive changes that have taken place over just the last several years in America. So, what do we do? We stand up taller! - We speak up louder! - We PRAY and we PRAY some more! Watch and listen to what happens over the next year. In the meantime, don't take for granted your freedom to worship and what's left of our way of life.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 23:1-6 ASV  Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.  He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever.