House Churches Raided in China, Leaders Arrested

At least three house churches in China were raided by Chinese authorities recently with their leaders being arrested and detained on trumped-up charges.

International Christian Concern (ICC), a U.S.-based persecution watchdog, reports authorities raided the Xi’an Abundant Church, the Linfen Holy Covenant Church and Changchun city’s House of Light Church.

On Aug. 17, Pastor Lian Chang-Nian and his wife Guo Jiuju, his son Pastor Lian Xuliang and wife Zhang Jun along with their 9-year-old son, Preacher Fu Juan and sister Xing Aiping from Xi’an’s Abundant Church were taken to Shilipu police station after their homes were raided.

The following day, the adults were handcuffed and brought to their church for a staged photoshoot. The authorities later announced the verdict for their crimes of illegal gathering, illegal venue and illegal collection of funds. A church member who witnessed the photoshoot said Pastor Lian had apparently been mistreated since he had several injuries to his head and arms, according to the ICC.   

While the pastors’ wives and sister Xing were released that same evening, the Lians and Preacher Fu were still missing. The father and son duo are being held under residential surveillance at a designated location in Shaanxi province for “fraud.”

Linfen Holy Covenant Church

On Aug. 19 around 7:00 pm, 70 members of Linfen Holy Covenant Church in Shanxi province were enjoying an outdoor family event when 170 police officers conducted a raid with overwhelming force. After being searched, their cell phones confiscated, all of the members were arrested and led away by the police, the ICC reported.

In the meantime, police also searched church coworkers Li Jie and Han Xiaodong homes, confiscating documents and books. Li, his wife Li Shanshan and Han went missing after the raid. Another member, Hou Guobao was also arrested.  

Nujiang Ethnic Nu Christians

On Aug. 19, the families of ethnic Nu Christians Wang Shunping and Nu Sangdeng received criminal detention notices for the two Christian men. Wang and Nu were detained for “allegedly organizing and sponsoring illegal gathering” by Fugong County’s Public Security Bureau in Nujiang Prefecture, according to the ICC.

San Luopo and two Christian women from out of town were also reportedly detained, but no official document has been issued.  

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