China: Christian Leaders Locked in Cage for Insisting on Independence from the Official Church
Aug 21 2007
Postings >> China

Three prominent Christian leaders from Hebei province were locked in an iron cage for insisting on their independence from China's official church.

The three -- Liang Aijun, Wang Zhong and Gao Jinbao -- were in Inner Mongolia when they were seized by Chinese security police at a private home in Ximeng region. They were in hiding after resisting the authorities' attempts to make them join the registered church. When they were first arrested, they were caged like animals, denied water and barred from speaking. The three men have since been transferred to an undisclosed location.

A fourth church leader from Hebei, Cui Tai, has been detained by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) ever since he was involved in a minor motorbike accident in Zhuolu County in early July. His details were initially taken by the police but he was then handed over to the PSB. Cui Tai has also refused to register with the official church.

Meanwhile, in Xinjiang province, 10 PSB officials raided a house church and detained six of its members for 12 hours. One Christian was beaten up during the raid and a number of 'illegal religious materials' including Bibles were confiscated.

Members of the congregation were forced to sign an official document which stated that the signatory's relatives would be held responsible if the signatory persisted in religious activities. It also claimed that Christians' relatives were obliged to help believers 'reform' -- and included a list of penalties for non-compliance.

China Aid reports that the son of the Christian whose home was raided has since been sacked from his job, reportedly as a direct consequence of his father's church involvement.

• Pray for the swift release of the four church leaders from Hebei. Thank God for their principled stance against joining the officially recognised church.
• Pray that the national government will override Xinjiang officials' attempts to punish Christians' relatives simply by association.