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| Officials Arrest Henan Pastor Mid-Service. (Photo: China Aid) |
By China Aid
Notices posted everywhere when you go out in public. Authorities bursting into your church services, even arresting your pastor in the middle of his sermon. Even your private life isn’t safe, when even meeting with friends in your home can result in fines or arrests if you’re caught.
This is the current situation facing Christians in Henan, a province in the heart of China.
In February, new religious regulations went into effect, and though China has always tried to force its citizens to only join and attend government-run churches, things are even more dangerous with these new laws.
Fearing corruption by propaganda from the Communist-run churches, many Christians prefer to meet in secret, outside of this official system in homes or rented buildings. These house churches risk their safety to gather for services. Even small prayer meetings are forbidden!
And for Henan, the circumstances are only getting worse.
Emboldened by the new laws, authorities are raiding services, arresting pastors, and placing house church members under house arrest. In a few short months, hundreds of house churches now gone. Churches that operated peacefully for years are no longer safe. The doors of their buildings are sealed over and their crosses are demolished.
Again and again, these Christians are pressured to join the “official” churches and register with the government. Their methods of seeking out these Christians are cruel, too. In some branches of the Communist Party, employees are forced to sign a statement denouncing all religious beliefs. If anyone refuses to sign it, everyone in the branch will have up to $5,000 deducted from their salary!
Even those who have registered with state-run churches aren’t exempt from the crackdown. Members of official churches were summoned in early April for “ideological reorientation,” where they were reminded that all churches should display the Chinese flag, that minors younger than 18 are not allowed within a church, and that Christian “propaganda,” such as signs and posters, should not appear on their buildings.
Despite the dangers and increasing pressure, many Christians are still meeting in secret, undeterred by the Communists’ threats. The Communist Party may fear that truth, but they will never defeat it!
Walking with the persecuted,
Bob Fu
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." -- Matthew 25:40, NIV
Website: China Aid
Persecution Unveiled has been called to prick the consciences of this nation and all free people to pray for, speak up and act on behalf of those who are persecuted for their faith. Follow us on Pinterest, and Google and like us on Facebook.
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