Release International

Long-suffering Beijing pastors Zhang 'Bike' Mingxuan and Hua Huiqi have been detained yet again – apparently as part of the government 'clean-up' for China's National Day.

Police took Pastor Hua Huiqi from his home on September 17 because, they said, their boss wanted to discuss his work over dinner. In fact, police forced him into a car and drove him out of the city – and, at the time of writing, they appeared to be holding him until the Communist Party's 60th anniversary celebrations last Thursday were over.

Meanwhile, officials took Pastor Bike and his wife on a 'forced vacation' to a mountainous area of Henan on September 23. Pastor 'Bike' is head of the Chinese House Church Alliance. Both he and Pastor Hua have been detained repeatedly over the past few years.

Pastor Hua's brother Hua Huilin is reported to be dying in Beijing Tiantan Hospital. When his family asked for permission for Pastor Hua to pay him a visit, the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) initially refused – but then relented on September 22. Pastor Hua lost his father, Hua Zaichen, earlier this year.

Pastor Hua recently set up the Tentmaker Fellowship, a ministry which employs Christians, including some disabled people, to screen-print Bible verses on items made out of fabric. Officials have threatened to close down the ministry.

Meanwhile, in Shanxi province, officials have promised leaders of Fushan Church they will pay out 1.4 million yen in compensation for demolishing 17 buildings in its compound in Linfin city on September 13. At least ten church members were seriously injured in the night-time raid, during which officials allegedly beat Christians with 'bricks and other blunt instruments'. Several remain in a critical condition. Nine Fushan Church leaders were seized by Shanxi PSB officials on September 25: their whereabouts are not known.

(Sources: China Aid, The Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

• Thank God for the courage and commitment of Pastor Hua and Pastor Bike.
• Ask God to grow the Fushan Church in Linfin. Pray that justice will be done.

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