NEWS//Persecution calls for prayer

COVID-19 slowed up many things in China. Harassment of Christian is not on that list. Because of that, we Christians redouble our prayers for the government God has set in place in China, as well as for the people of China.

Hunan

Last month authorities in the central Chinese province of Hunan formally arrested a Protestant house church pastor on subversion charges after detaining him in March. The charge: incitement to subvert state power." Not mentioned in the charges against Pastor Zhao was his refusal to apply for his church to join the ruling Chinese Communist Party's official Three-Self Patriotic Association for Protestant churches. Source.

Chengdu

Early Rain Covenant Church, in Chengdu, continues to be harassed by police. In December 2018, the pastor of the church along with many leaders were arrested. Since that time, members have met online, sometimes gathering in small groups at members' homes. On Easter Sunday police raided homes and detained at least eight people. Source.

Chinese Christians have been using online video conferencing to meet during coronavirus restrictions. The local governments have blocked some of these gatherings. "Most people are now gathering online," Li, a Protestant church member in Guangdong, explained. "There's not much official interference in these online gatherings because of the epidemic. But some live webcasts have been taken offline, or the [meeting code] gets blocked," he said. Source.

Xiamen

In the city of Xiamen, authorities detained nine people on May 3 after hundreds of police raided a Protestant church gathering at the weekend. In the altercation, "the state security police came banging at the door, then they kicked it down and dragged those in the way outside the doorway, dragging them to the ground," Pastor Yang Xibo told Radio Free Asia.

Harassment of Christians has stepped up over the last two years. For a broader perspective on Christian persecution in China, read these posts: Church Leaders and BillionBibles.com.

“I urge… that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for… all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1). We pray with confidence. Our God is greater.

Sources: Church Leaders, BillionBibles.com, Breitbart, Radio Free Asia (1), Radio Free Asia (2),