China: House Churches Brace for Crackdown in Run-Up to Olympics
Jul 24 2007
Postings >> China

China's 'illegal churches' are bracing themselves as the government launches a crackdown on religious activities in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

It has just been revealed that officials launched an 'anti-infiltration' initiative codenamed Typhoon No.5 in February. Its aim: to sever links between Chinese and foreign Christians.

At least 100 foreign Christians were expelled or deported from China between April and June alone for alleged involvement in 'illegal religious activities', says China Aid. Some of those expelled had lived in China for up to 18 years.

Compass Direct reports that there is also a nationwide shortage of Bibles, despite the fact that the only legal publisher produces 'enough Bibles to meet the demand'. Many Bibles have apparently been exported -- or destroyed. Unregistered churches that were previously able to obtain Bibles through the legally recognised Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches are now being denied them.

And the crackdown on house churches continues unabated. Two of the six house church leaders arrested in Cao county, Shandong, on June 15 (7x7 July 10) have been sentenced to one year's 're-education through labour'; they are Pastor Zhang Geming and Pastor Sun Qingqen. The other four were freed after paying fines of about £650.

Two church leaders arrested for distributing Bibles in a marketplace in Shaanxi (7x7 July 10) -- Zhou Jieming and Niu Wenbin -- have now been released on parole.

• Pray that, despite government restrictions, the gospel will extend its reach across China and win many more people for Christ.
• Pray for pastors Zhang Geming and Sun Qingqen beginning their sentences in a labour camp in Jining City. Ask God to give them a new revelation of His grace.