Release International

The Chinese authorities have told Pastor 'Bike' Mingxuan that his Chinese House Church Alliance has been abolished.

Plain-clothed security officers detained Pastor Bike in Nanyang city, Henan, and escorted him to the Nanyang Municipal Union Hotel where 20 government officials had gathered.

There, he was told that the alliance which he heads up was operating 'without authorisation' as a social organisation. The alliance, which has just celebrated its third anniversary, has an estimated 250,000 members. When the pastor refused to sign documents confirming its abolition, his phone, camera and camcorder were confiscated.

Meanwhile, security officials detained 17 Christians praying at the address where Pastor Bike had been staying in Nanyang. They included an American journalist and his translator who were put on a plane to Beijing. The other 15 were detained for three hours.

Pastor Bike, who was held for 11 days in October (7x7, November 11, 2008 ), has since revealed that officials accused him of 'illegal business operations' for distributing silicon wrist bands bearing the words 'Bless China' during the Olympics. China Aid reports that Chinese police have been confiscating the bands as 'politically sensitive items'.

(Source: China Aid)

Ask God to protect Pastor Bike, his wife and their sons Zhang Jian and Zhang Chuang. Pray for an end to the authorities' campaign of harassment against them.

Thank God that a simple prayer band is creating such a stir in China.

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