Authorities crack down on the Chinese House Church Allianceby Staff
December 11, 2008
(christiansunite.com) - Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan and other underground Christians have been targeted by authorities in recent days due to a statement released on November 28 by the Ministry of Civil Affairs calling for the elimination of the Chinese House Church Alliance.
According to a November 30 report from China Aid Association, Pastor Zhang, the President of the Chinese House Church Alliance, was detained by four officers in Nanyang, Henan province, at approximately 7:00 a.m. When authorities demanded that he sign the Ministry's statement, he refused. Pastor Zhang's wife was also detained by authorities but was later released.
Seventeen Christians who were worshipping at Pastor Zhang's residence, including an American journalist and his translator, were apprehended at approximately 10:00 a.m., photographed and forced to sign documents. Although they were later released, authorities confiscated their computers, cell phones, magazines, and over 600 Bibles. The journalist and translator were escorted by officials to an airplane leaving Nanyang for Beijing. At the time of the report, Pastor Zhang remained in detention.
Pray that the Ministry of Civil Affairs will withdraw their statement. Ask God to protect Pastor Zhang in detention. Pray that his passion for Christ will be the light that draws others to Him (Matthew 5:14-16).
For more on the plight of Christians in China, go to
www.persecution.net/china.htm.
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