REPORT ON CHURCHES IN CHINA

For those who may think that there is no religious persecution in China. Here is a report on some recent actions by the Chinese government towards churches, from a friend who works in China

The pressures and privileges of working with Christian brothers and sisters in
China are many. Sometimes, things go smoothly and somtimes the situation
makes things a bit more "challenging." I send the following tidbits of
information to allow you to pray with focus. Acts 1:8 continues to
establish and retain a burden for the Lost! God Bless you as you
serve. A China worker

House Church Worship Service Raided in Anhui (January 26, 2007, China Aid Association)
House Church Worship Service Raided in Anhui Province; Inner Mongolia Christians Take Legal Measures to Protect Freedom; 9 Arrested Church Leaders in Henan Released after 15 Days of Detention. CAA has learned local police raided a house church worship service in Zhangchong Township, Jinzhai County, Anhui province on January 24, 2007. Three Christians were taken to the police station and released after interrogation. According to eyewitnesses, the raid happened around 10:00 AM when some Christians were having their worship service. Policemen from the County Public Security Bureau (PSB), local police station, county criminal police squad, and officers from the county Religious Affair Administrative Bureau broke into the house. They took pictures of every Christian in the room and asked for their names and identities. The police then released most of the Christians and took three church leaders to the police station for interrogation. The police confiscated Bibles, hymn books, acoustic equipment, a blackboard, and the tither box without any legal procedure. The police warned the three church leaders that they are not allowed to gather without the registration to the government.

9 Arrested House Church Leaders in Henan Released after 15 Days of Detention. (January 26, 2007, China Aid Association)
China Aid Association has also learned that nine house church leaders arrested on January 6, 2007 in a raid by police in Yongfeng Township, Xiuwu County, Henan province were released on January 20, 2007, after 15 days of detention. The detained Christians were not given any legal certificate of their arrest, detention, or release.

Vice Premier Calls for Approved Religious Administration (July 16, 2007, People’s Daily)
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu called for improved administration of religious work in order to achieve harmony among people of different religious beliefs. Religious work was facing new challenges as the country stepped into a crucial stage of reform and development, Hui said at a national conference on religious work held in southwest China's Kunming City, Yunnan Province, from Monday to Tuesday. The administration of religious work must be based on stable social and economic development, and correct understanding of world religions and their influence on Chinese religions, he said. "We must properly deal with religious affairs and let religions play a positive role in building a harmonious society," said Hui. The Party's policy on the freedom of religious beliefs must be implemented correctly, ensuring political cooperation with religious groups and promoting the Party among religious adherents.

Christian Service Raided in Henan Province (January 15, 2007, christiannewswire.com)
China Aid Association has learned that on January 6, 2007 the local police from Yongfeng township police station in Xiuwu county, Henan province, raided a Christian gathering held in Chencun village. 11 Christians were taken to the police station; only 2 of them were released the next day. According to the eyewitness, the event happened at 4 PM January 6, 2007, when 14 Christians gathered in a house in Chencun village. The police broke into and proclaimed the gathering a cultic activity and illegal gathering. 11 Christians were brought to Huifeng township police station for interrogation. The police released 2 Christians the next day, the rest are still in detention.

Three Church Leaders Arrested in China, Montoring Group Says (January 3, 2007, AP)
The police arrested three Christian church leaders in a raid on a gathering at a private home in northeastern China, a U.S.-based monitoring group reported Wednesday. About 30 police officers and officials from the local government's Religious Affairs Bureau took part in the raid Dec. 29 on the home in Duolun, in Inner Mongolia, 250 kilometers, or 155 miles, north of Beijing, the China Aid Association reported. The officials declared the service an "illegal gathering," the association said, a reflection of China's policy of permitting worship only in official churches whose clergy and activities are tightly controlled by the Communist government. Detained were Liu Guanghua, 42, Zhi Huiping, 41, and Zhi Ruiping, 35, the association said. It said the three women were being held at the Duolun County Detention Center. The association said the three women were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention, a measure used against people deemed to have committed offenses but who are not legally recognized as criminals. he association said the service had been part of post-Christmas celebrations, but didn't say how many people were in attendance.