Release International

Beijing officials detained scores of Christians when a congregation held their Sunday worship outdoors after being barred entry to their normal meeting venue.

Up to 1,000 police officers cordoned off the public area where the Shouwang Church had gathered for worship last weekend – and made 169 arrests. Some Christians were taken in buses and vans to police stations; others were driven to a primary school where they reportedly sang hymns.

Three senior leaders of the church are still in detention and several others remain under tight surveillance, according to Release partner China Aid.

Furthermore, more than 20 pastors and elders of the church were reportedly held under house arrest last Saturday to prevent them from attending the service.

The church, which is one of the largest in Beijing with about 1,000 members, had advertised that it was due to meet outdoors, partly in protest at the ongoing harassment it has suffered from officials over recent years.

In fact, the meeting area in Haidan district where they congregated on Sunday is adjacent to a property that they legally own – the Daheng New Epoch Technology building. Shouwang Church bought the office building a year ago but, under pressure from officials, the building's management company has yet to hand over the keys.

Until recently, the church was meeting in the Old Story Club restaurant – but its landlord then bowed to pressure from Beijing officials and asked them to leave. China Aid reports that the church tried in vain to register with the Government two years ago.

It is believed that the church has attracted officials' attention because its members include many well-educated people, including human rights lawyers, former government officials and religious scholars.

NEWS UPDATE:
Release is calling on its supporters to pray for Beijing lawyer Gao Zhisheng who has not been seen since he disappeared for a second time a year ago. Gao, who is a Christian, had been in detention since February 2009 and reappeared on March 27, 2010. Two weeks later, however, he was detained again. His family, who have fled to the US, have had no contact with him since. Gao Zhisheng has been kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the Chinese authorities for defending religious rights.

(Sources: Associated Press, China Aid, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Compass Direct, Reuters)

• Pray that international coverage of the Shouwang Church's plight will force the Beijing authorities to allow it to meet in the building it legally owns.
• Pray for the immediate release of Gao Zhisheng. Pray that he can be reunited quickly with his wife and children. Pray that God's peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

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