REPRESSION IN CHINA

Chinese Communists have trouble accepting Christianity

American Business Leaders who make profits from their Factories in China (and who control the Bush Administration voices on China) Constantly try to "sell" the concept of the "transition" in China. 

The Only real Transition seems to be from previous oppressions of Christians, to MORE and Greater Oppression of Christians. 

Wednesday, August 24, 2005 

CHINA: DEFIANTLY INTENSIFYING PERSECUTION 

based on report of Elizabeth Kendal
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service 

AUSTRALIA (ANS) - Aug 24/05 - Two recent news releases from China Aid Association document a shocking escalation of persecution in China. There seems (to RLP) to be a direct correlation between increasing Russian-Chinese-Central Asian solidarity and growing persecution of unsanctioned Protestant Christians in those states. The dictators are uniting to protect their totalitarian regimes through alliances that reduce the influence and leverage of Western human rights and religious liberty advocates. Furthermore, China is systematically strengthening its assault on 'cults' (which includes house churches) through ideological training of cadres. These are very concerning developments. But God is in control of his-story for his glory! So we will confidently and dependently approach his 'throne of grace' (Hebrews 4:14-16).

CAA reports that in Henan Province on 1 July, 70 Christians in a house church fellowship were holding a baptismal service for 60 new believers when they were raided by police. Pastor Wang Baode and nine others were sentenced to 15 days' administrative detention, whilst all others present were fined, probably unofficially as no receipts were issued. On 7 July Pastor Cai Zhuohua faced court in Beijing charged with 'illegal business operations' for printing more than 200,000 Bibles and other Christian books. (As they were given away and not sold, there was no 'business'.) He is in prison awaiting sentence. On 22 July, 100 High School students were arrested at a Vocational Bible School in Hebei Province. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) interrogated them for hours before releasing them with the order not to gather again. On 26 July, a 400-member house church fellowship in Shanghai was ordered to close. 

On 2 August, two touring American theology students were arrested along with 43 South China Church pastors and believers in Zaoyang City, Hebei Province. The two Americans were interrogated for seven hours and their personal Bibles, books and notebooks were confiscated. The SCC believers were imprisoned. All but two have since been released, having suffered torture, humiliation and beatings. A 17-year-old evangelist, Mr He Baobao, had to be hospitalised. The two still in prison are Ms Gu Junqing (38) and Ms Ren Daoyun (60) who had hosted the SCC meeting in her home. Eye witnesses told CAA Ms Ren was severely punished by the Domestic Security Squad of the Zaoyang PSB, being savagely and repeatedly beaten into unconsciousness. 

On Sunday 7 August, a house church in Hejing County, Xinjiang Province, was raided during worship. Some 30 believers were arrested by the Domestic Security Protection Squad. Ten of the women were then stripped and paraded naked. Those who refused to remove their clothes were savagely beaten. One woman tried to kill herself by beating her head into a brick wall, such was her humiliation. Three church leaders, Mr Song Jun, Mr He Jiangwei and Ms Liang Fanglan are still held incommunicado. 

On 11 August, 35 High School and University students, along with several church leaders, were arrested at a Sunday School teacher training class in Jiangxi Province. Police confiscated money and church property, without receipts. All those arrested have been released but six will be prosecuted for criminal offences. On 15 August, five American church leaders were arrested along with 27 
house church pastors. The group had simply been enjoying Christian fellowship together. Where they are being detained is not known.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

- 'mercy and grace' in this time of great need, especially for those in prison (Hebrews 4:14-16; 13:3), asking God in his mercy to protect them from brutality and grant them justice. 


- all those who have suffered, that God will give them healing, strength and grace to love and pray for their persecutors without bitterness, the ultimate spiritual victory.
With this spiritual battle in mind, 'Be alert and always keep on praying for the saints' (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)
God to so use the integrity, gospel witness, and supernatural grace of China's persecuted believers that their persecutors will be convicted of sin and ultimately be drawn to Christ. 

- That ministries or organizations in the West would distribute Accurate and uncorrupted or unchanged Bible Versions in China. (The Chinese government works with organizations in the west to publish Innacurate Bibles. Those Bibles are then "smuggled" or sold back into China and accepted by the Chinese Underground Church, on the pretense that the Bibles had to be honorable and accurate because they came through people from the West. This is one of the ways that the Communists continue to put pressure on the true Church in China).

- That Western Corporations that do business in China would start to incorporate "Human Rights" Clauses in their contracts with Chinese companies and the Chinese government that would void or reduce compensation for companies that encourage, approve, tolerate or allow persecution or violations of Human Rights. 

- That President Bush and other western Leaders would speak out and begin to actively work for the Freedom of Christians around the World, instead of simply bowing to multinational corporations short term financial statements. 

- revival to sweep through the Chinese Communist Party at every level, and for God to intervene in the life of CCP chief, President Hu Jintao, that he might humble himself before the Lord, renounce his sins, do what is right, and acknowledge that 'Heaven rules'. (2 Chronicles 33; Daniel 4). 

Friday, July 8, 2005 

BEIJING CHURCH LEADER PUT ON TRIAL

By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service 

MIDLAND, TEXAS (ANS) -- A leader of six Beijing-area house churches was put on trial Thursday morning in a Beijing courtroom for alleged “illegal business practices.”

According to a news release from the China Aid Association (CAA), the trial of Pastor Cai Zhuohua lasted about four-and-a-half hours, but the verdict was not announced.

Zhuohua was on trial along with his wife, Xiao Yunfei; her brother, Xiao Gaowen; and his wife, Hu Jinyun.

Nine lawyers had volunteered to represent the accused Christians, but CAA reported the judge allowed only five of them into the courtroom.

Zhuohua’s mother was also not allowed to be in the room for the trial. According to CAA, the family had been told they would be allowed 10 seats for family members. However, when they arrived at the court they were told they could have only five seats. But then guards allowed only three family members inside, and Zhuohua’s mother was not allowed to go in. 

Two members of the church were allowed to enter, as was Xiao Yunfei's father. Even though there weren't enough seats for family members, CAA reported the judge invited more than 20 law school students as his guests to observe the trial. 

According to CAA, eyewitnesses reported that about 30 of Zhuohua's church members stood outside the court building to show solidarity with him.

The U.S. Embassy sent an observer to be present at the trial, which had been announced for hearing room three at the People's Court of Haidian District in Beijing City. However, when he arrived at that room, CAA said the embassy staffer was told that the hearing had been moved to hearing room six, and was ordered to leave the building.

Once the hearing began, Zhuohua said his written testimony, which was compiled from the interrogation records of the police, wasn’t true. He said he was unaware what the interrogator had written down on the interrogation document, and that he was forced to sign the record of the interview under threat of torture. He denied that he had anything to do with the record.

All three of the other accused Christians also revoked their testimony, CAA reported, saying they had also been forced to sign or face torture.

The lawyers tried to present evidence that the case had to do with Zhuohua’s unregistered church activities, but the judge would not allow any arguments about religious issues.

“This has nothing to do with religion. This is an economic crime,” CAA reported Presiding Judge You Tao said.

Police witnesses read prosecution documents, as well as records from the interrogation. According to CAA, only one witness for the defense was allowed to testify: an elderly Christian lady who said she had received Christian literature from Zhuohua without being asked to pay anything.

This witness led into the defense’s core argument, CAA reported, that because the Christian literature was being given away, it was not a for-profit activity and therefore could not have been “illegal business practices.”

Zhuohua was arrested last Sept. 11 at a bus stop, where he was dragged into a van by state security officers. The prosecution of his case was reportedly arranged directly by the Chinese Dept. of State Security. According to CAA, authorities had been shocked to find more than 200,000 pieces of printed Christian literature in a storage room managed by Zhuohua. 

In China, only one printer is legally able to print limited numbers of Bibles in China, and those Bibles can only be sold through registered churches.

The verdict in the case will be announced later. CAA reported its sources say that time frame could range between a week and a year. It is believed that the Chinese government will try to find a time when political fallout from the decision will be less, CAA commented. 

CAA reported that one of Zhuohua's lawyers, Gao Zhisheng, chief attorney at Beijing Shenzhi Law Firm, told Agencie France Presse that, “It is impossible for them to be found innocent, but I have confidence to strive for lighter sentences.”

“Clearly the charges against Pastor Cai are false,” said Bob Fu, President of CAA and a former coworker of Zhuohua. “We urge people of conscience around the world to pray and protest on behalf of these faithful Christians.”

REPORTED NATIONWIDE CRACKDOWN ON HOUSE CHURCHES IN CHINA
Numerous Leaders Arrested

By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

MIDLAND, TEXAS (ANS) -June 30, 2005- Reports are emerging from China that a nationwide campaign against unregistered house churches is underway. Numerous house churches have been raided in recent weeks, hundreds of people have been arrested and many remain in prison.

According to a news release from the China Aid Association (CAA), at about 8 a.m. on June 24, while house church leader Pastor Chen Dongming was leading a church leadership training meeting at his home in Hezhai Village in Henan Province, more than 50 Chinese police and public security officials raided and searched his house without a search warrant.

About 100 pastors from several major cities including Kaifeng, Xinxiang and Jiaozuo City were taken away and detained at Qi County Detention Center. Most of the pastors were released at approximately 6 p.m. the same day after being interrogated.

Nine of them, including Pastors Chen Dongming, and Pastors Wei and Jin whose first names were unavailable), are still in jail. According to eyewitnesses, in the early morning of June 24, more than 50 plain clothed security officers surrounded the entire village with three large trucks and a number of police cars and went right to Chen's house.

After bursting into the building, CAA reported, the security officers conducted thorough body searches of each of the pastors - both men and women. Private property including cash, chairs, TVs, books, blankets and rice were confiscated and carried away by the police trucks. One pastor who was released said they were accused of “engaging in an illegal religious gathering.”

Meanwhile, according to CAA investigators from various areas inside China, Chinese boarder control guards detained 34 house church Christians on June 3 at a customs office called Kashi between China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Pakistan.

According to one house church leader who is familiar with the situation, CAA reported all of the 34 Christians were holding valid passports and visas from Pakistan. They were arrested when one of them revealed they were Christian missionaries.

Most of them were released after serving 15 days in administrative detention centers in their respective hometowns. All 34 are now on the run for fear of further repercussion from the Chinese authorities.

Three female house church believers were arrested on May 24, CAA reported, while visiting a Christian leader's home. They were subsequently released after being interrogated at Yiyang County Detention center. None of them, CAA reported, were shown any arrest warrants or release papers. They were accused of “attending a religious black hole,” which refers to house churches there. According to an eyewitness report, the three women were brutally beaten. One was released earlier because the beatings caused her to suffer a heart attack.

On May 13, 20 house church leaders were arrested while conducting a Bible training class at Pinglu County, Shanxi Province. Among them, CAA reported, were two well-known local house church leaders, Pastor Zhang Guangmin and Elder Li. After releasing most of the participants the same day, CAA reported, Guangmin and Li were released after serving a detention term of two weeks and one month respectively.

CAA also reported that Beijing House church Pastor Cai Zhuohua's trial date has been indefinitely postponed after it was originally scheduled for mid-June. According to a reliable source, the presiding judge from the People's Court of Haidian District, You Tao, told Zhuohua’s mother of this decision by telephone. Zhuohua’s mother has taken care of his 6-year-old son since the arrest of Zhuohua, his wife and two other relatives last Sept.

According to a copy of the prosecution papers obtained by CAA, Zhuohua, his wife and two others will be prosecuted on the grounds of “illegal business management,” and for allegedly printing over 200,000 copies of Christian literature. Because of Zhuohua’s pastoral leadership at a Beijing house church, five prominent lawyers volunteered to defend him. CAA reported that all five lawyers believe this is a case of religious persecution under the pretext of “illegal business management.”

Among them, Professor Fan Yafeng is currently an associate researcher at the Institute of Studies on Law in China's Academy of Social Sciences which is the top government think tank. CAA reported that according to a credible source, the government has put mounting pressure on Zhuohua’s lawyers to discourage them from defending him.

Because this occurred prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this case has attracted international attention, CAA reported.

“It's widely believed,” CAA commented, “that the delay is a tactic that may give the government time to coordinate damage control once a verdict is pronounced. The raided house churches are independent house churches with thousands of believers who choose not to register their Christian activities with the Communist government.”

Speaking in the news release, Bob Fu, CAA president, said “This is actually just the tip of the iceberg. China has been proclaiming to the international community that Chinese people are enjoying a golden time of religious freedom, this series of nationwide assaults on unregistered house churches does not support this claim. This is also a wakeup call to the world community that it's time to seriously reconsider its appeasing policies toward the issue of China's religious freedom.”

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 

CHINA: CRACKDOWN ON CHRISTIANS

By Elizabeth Kendal
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service 

AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) knows the greatest threat to its totalitarian rule is internal. The CCP watched as a coalition of intellectuals, workers and the church brought down Communism in Poland and Central Europe. To control internal pressures the CCP uses a tool of the Mao era: 're-education through labour', involving a vast gulag of over a thousand concentration camps or slave labour prisons known as 'laogai'.

The laogai system lets local officials or the central authority lock up large numbers of people on administrative sentences without charge or trial. This is used against those deemed problematic, like drug addicts and prostitutes, or who threaten the status quo, such as political and religious dissidents. The aim of 're-education through labour' is 'thought reform', i.e., forced submission to the CCP. Whilst multitudes of Christians are incarcerated in laogai camps, others are imprisoned on false criminal charges or social security charges. The degree of repression varies widely across the nation. 

According to China Aid Association (CAA) and Voice of the Martyrs, on Sunday 22 May police and Public Security Bureau officers raided 60 house-churches simultaneously in Changchun, the capital city of Jilin province (north-eastern China, bordering North Korea). Another 40 churches in the area were raided over the following days. More than 600 house-church Christians were taken into custody. As Bob Fu, CAA president points out, 'The man-power, coordination and planning involved in raiding such a large number of church meetings simultaneously shows that this effort came from high levels of the Chinese government.' CAA points out the raided house-church groups have a majority of university students, professors and other young intellectuals. CAA believes this could be a co-ordinated campaign to eliminate the house-church influence in the university areas. Whilst most of those arrested were released after 24 to 48 hours' interrogation, some 100 influential Christians are held in various detention centres. 

Hebei province (surrounding Beijing) has the highest concentration of Catholics in the country: some 1.5 million, mostly underground Catholics. Eight of Hebei's Catholic bishops and 13 priests are in prison or 'missing'. Hebei Catholics consider there are two main reasons why local officials persecute them so intensively: (1) many authority figures are 'rigidly Maoist' with a nostalgia for the Cultural Revolution (which runs counter to the moderate policies of China’s President Hu Jintao); (2) the Catholics see the fight against religion as a 'smokescreen to conceal the fact that provincial officials have failed to develop Hebei's economy'. Catholics in Hebei say violence has been unleashed on them by a Religious Affairs Department that has declared 'an all-out-war against the Church'. 

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

all Christians incarcerated in China, that the ever-present, comforting, counseling Holy Spirit will fill them with hope, faith, courage, and assurance of his love (Romans 8:38,39), enabling them to be victorious in persecution and suffering.


PASTOR GONG SHENGLIANG (54) and PASTOR ZHANG RONGLIANG (53), two of China's most senior imprisoned Christian leaders. Pray also for their families.

PASTOR GONG is founder and senior pastor of the intensively persecuted 50,000-strong South China Church. Imprisoned for life, he is very frail due to torture and beatings. Pastor Gong's daughters, Xiaoyan and Huali, are dedicated full time evangelists. His wife Hu Guifang is struggling with trauma. 

PASTOR ZHANG, a well-known house-church patriarch, is leader of the 10 million-strong house-church network, China for Christ Church. He is the co-author of House Churches of China - Confession of Faith and Declaration. He has had five previous detentions (with torture) totalling 12 years. He is diabetic and there are great fears for his safety. His wife and child are in hiding. 
'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not 
forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...' (Isaiah 49:15,16a)
God to remove the laogai system, the instrument of Maoist injustice and repression in China.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

--Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--

Christian Conversions - According to the Bible - Can NEVER be forced.

Any Conversion to Christianity which would be "Forced" would NOT be recognized by God. It is in His True and KIND nature, that those who come to Him and choose to believe in Him, must come to Him OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL.



Don't Let anyone tell you that Christians support Forced Conversions.

That is False. True Christianity is NEVER forced.

Core Universal Rights

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief