Release International - Prisoners of Faith

Prisoners of Faith

CHINA: NINE HOUSE CHURCH LEADERS SENT TO LABOUR CAMP

The families of nine house church leaders missing since August have just been told they have been sent to labour camps in Hubei.

One of the nine, 42-year-old Mrs Li Mei, has been tortured so badly that she is now in hospital needing a hysterectomy, 'with both hands chained to her bed'.

The pastors, who are from four different provinces, were arrested in July when security officials raided a worship meeting at a house church; they were charged with 'undermining' state laws by belonging to an 'evil cult'. The four male pastors have been sentenced to 18 months' hard labour, the women to 12 months.

They include a husband and wife, who have three school-age children, and two sisters. Qin Daomin, whose home was the venue for the worship meeting, is 'temporarily serving her sentence at home' because she has a two-year-old child, says China Aid.

The nine sentenced leaders are from Anhui, Hubei, Henan and Shanxi provinces.

The four men are Wang Caizhang (34), Ma Zhao (35), Yang Situan (39) and Du Dongliang (32).

The five women are Qin Daofang (40), Hu Rong (42), Li Mei (42), Ren Xianxue (35), and Qin Daomin (33).

Mr Yang Situan and Ms Ren Xianxue are husband and wife with three children at school.
Ms Qin Daofang and Qin Daomin are two biological sisters and their father Mr Qin Hongjun (65) was sentenced to ten days administrative detention for hosting the Sunday worship service at his home. He was also severely beaten.

TAKE ACTION: SUPPORT THE PRISONERS

Please send cards or short letters of support and encouragement to the addresses below.

The four male church leaders are now held in the following labour camp:

Enshi Zhou Labor Camp
Shi Jia Po Reeducation through labour camp,
Liu Jiao Ting town,
Enshi city,
Enshizhou,
Hubei province (zip code: 44500)

The five women are being held at:

Hubei Provincial Female Reeducation through labour camp
Team 2, Female Reeducation through labour camp,
Te Yi Hao,
Wunan Tielu,
Hongshan district,
Wuhan city,
Hubei province

TAKE ACTION: WRITE TO THE AUTHORITIES

We believe that writing a personal letter can be an effective way of advocating on behalf of detained or imprisoned Christians. Please do NOT mention RI when you write. You may find this example letter helpful.

Please send your letters to:

Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom
Mr. Zha Peixin, Ambassador,
Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom,
49-51 Portland Place, London WIN 4JL
Fax: 020 7636 2981 / 5578

WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu
Beijing 100017
People's Republic of China
Fax: 00 86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Ms Wu Aiying
Minister of Justice of the People's Republic of China
No.10 Nandajie, Chaoyangmen
Chaoyang District
Beijing 100020
People's Republic of China
Fax: 00 86 10 64729863

SHUANG SHUYING

China Aid also reports that Shuang Shuying, mother of Beijing house church activist Hua Huiqi, is 'dying in her cell' after being severely beaten. Huiqi, who was jailed for six months earlier this year, says that police frequently told him his mother would be released if he gave up his work. In a recent statement, he said his family have been harassed continually: large groups of police occupy the house, windows have been smashed, electricity cut off, the front door sealed. A powerful light is trained on his bedroom window.

'Now all my family has lost their freedom,' says Huiqi. 'Please pray for the Chinese police and ask God to soften their heart and pray for the early release of my mother.'

LATEST NEWS OF HUA HUIQI

China Aid reports that Pastor Hua Huiqi was attacked by members of the PSB (Public Security Bureau) on October 11 when he was beaten unconscious. Then he was sent to Beijing Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Hospital. He regained consciousness on the morning of October 14.

'Whether I live or die, it doesn't matter,' said Pastor Hua. 'As long as Christ shines on me, and the gospel and Christ's love is spread.'

The photo (courtesy China Aid) shows Hua after the attack in his hospital room. More than two dozen police disguised as doctors surrounded the room to block visitors.

PRISONERS OF FAITH

RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry gives pastoral care and practical support to Christians imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ, and their families. We encourage supporters to pray for prisoners, write letters of encouragement, campaign for their release, and give financially to support this vital work.

Every month an individual Christian prisoner is featured in our email alert, along with guidelines for writing letters.

Sign up for free alert SIGN UP HERE to get our FREE Prisoners of Faith monthly email alert. (If you live outside the UK and Ireland, please send an email requesting the alert to info@releaseinternational.org)

SEE PAST ALERTS

HELP PRISONERS OF FAITH

HOW YOU CAN HELP PRISONERS OF FAITH

When a Christian is imprisoned for their faith, as is increasingly common in countries such as China, North Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam and others, the whole family suffers.

Children are separated from their mother or father; wives from their husbands.

If the family breadwinner is jailed, the children and older dependents often suffer financially as the main source of family income is lost, perhaps for several years.

In the worst cases of imprisonment and torture, the family member may never be able to work fully again.

That's why Release International's Prisoners of Faith ministry gives practical support to both Christians imprisoned for their faith, as well as their suffering families.

With your help, RI gives practical support for prisoners and their families, pastoral care and encouragement, as well as legal advice where appropriate.

In today's world, we can't stop repressive regimes from unjustly imprisoning Christians. But we can "remember those in prison" (Hebrews 13:3) by our prayers and gifts.

Please support Christian prisoners and their families today by completing our web form. Thank you.

Bushra Anwer's husband was unjustly imprisoned for a year under Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, which are often used abusively against Christians . Bushra was left to look after their four children on her own. "We just want to live together as a family," she said.

Christians who are imprisoned for their faith by repressive regimes must often endure the most appalling prison conditions.

In Pakistan, for example, prisons originally built by the British over 150 years ago are severely over-crowded. Prisoners endure unhygienic conditions, poor food and almost non-existent healthcare. Many suffer from TB. They may be physically and mentally abused by prison staff, as well as other prisoners, especially if theirs is a high-profile case.

Christian prisoners may also be systematically tortured, as is the case in China, North Korea and Vietnam, leaving them with permanent physical and mental scars.

Caring for both prisoners and their families

RI's prison visitor Sohail visits the family of a Christian prisoner in Pakistan.

RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry cares for both Christians unjustly imprisoned for their faith, and their dependent families, in a number of ways by providing:

Pastoral support
Prayer
Practical aid, such as gift parcels
Legal assistance

In Pakistan, for example, RI's prison visitor Sohail has helped distribute hundreds of gift parcels to needy prisoners and families at Christmas. Parcels have contained food, soap, clothes, a blanket and Christian literature. Each parcel reminds prisoners and their families that they have not been forgotten by their wider Christian family.

"The big problem is this," says Sohail, "nobody supports the families. Even churches, even organisations, even the government doesn't provide the support, like finances or food. No pastor wants to visit the family for prayer."

Sohail has also persuaded prison authorities to allow Christian prisoners to have their own facilities for prayer and worship, which had previously been denied them.

Answered prayers: prisoners released

RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry helps provide legal advice and assistance through trusted local partners. In Pakistan, for example, RI's partners CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement) helped release Bushra Anwer's husband Anwer Masih, who had been falsely accused of blasphemy.

After his release, RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry continued to support the family, who, like others in their position, were forced to live in hiding.

A global ministry

RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry began in 2004 with the appointment of our first national prison visitor in Pakistan, Sohail.

Our vision however is to see similar local Christian prison visitors established in many other countries which are hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we can "remember those in prison" (Hebrews 13:3).

Your support for Prisoners of Faith is vital, and will enable us to increase the impact of this life-changing ministry.

How you can help

RI depends on the prayers and gifts of supporters in the UK and Ireland to support its work around the world.

If you would like to support RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry, please use our web form.

You can also help Christian prisoners by praying for them and their families, and by writing postcards or letters of encouragement.

If you would like to receive regular news of how you can pray and act to support Christian prisoners, and you have an email address, please use the web form to sign up for our free Prisoners of Faith monthly email alert service.

Please note: if you live outside the UK and Ireland, and would like to receive our Prisoners of Faith email alert, please send an email requesting this to info@releaseinternational.org

SEE PAST EMAIL ALERTS



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	CHINA: NINE HOUSE CHURCH LEADERS SENT TO LABOUR CAMP The families of nine house church leaders missing since August have just been told they have been sent to labour camps in Hubei. One of the nine, 42-year-old Mrs Li Mei, has been tortured so badly that she is now in hospital needing a hysterectomy, 'with both hands chained to her bed'. The pastors, who are from four different provinces, were arrested in July when security officials raided a worship meeting at a house church; they were charged with 'undermining' state laws by belonging to an 'evil cult'. The four male pastors have been sentenced to 18 months' hard labour, the women to 12 months. They include a husband and wife, who have three school-age children, and two sisters. Qin Daomin, whose home was the venue for the worship meeting, is 'temporarily serving her sentence at home' because she has a two-year-old child, says China Aid. The nine sentenced leaders are from Anhui, Hubei, Henan and Shanxi provinces. The four men are Wang Caizhang (34), Ma Zhao (35), Yang Situan (39) and Du Dongliang (32). The five women are Qin Daofang (40), Hu Rong (42), Li Mei (42), Ren Xianxue (35), and Qin Daomin (33). Mr Yang Situan and Ms Ren Xianxue are husband and wife with three children at school. Ms Qin Daofang and Qin Daomin are two biological sisters and their father Mr Qin Hongjun (65) was sentenced to ten days administrative detention for hosting the Sunday worship service at his home. He was also severely beaten. TAKE ACTION: SUPPORT THE PRISONERS Please send cards or short letters of support and encouragement to the addresses below. The four male church leaders are now held in the following labour camp: Enshi Zhou Labor Camp Shi Jia Po Reeducation through labour camp, Liu Jiao Ting town, Enshi city, Enshizhou, Hubei province (zip code: 44500) The five women are being held at: Hubei Provincial Female Reeducation through labour camp Team 2, Female Reeducation through labour camp, Te Yi Hao, Wunan Tielu, Hongshan district, Wuhan city, Hubei province TAKE ACTION: WRITE TO THE AUTHORITIES We believe that writing a personal letter can be an effective way of advocating on behalf of detained or imprisoned Christians. Please do NOT mention RI when you write. You may find this example letter helpful. Please send your letters to: Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Mr. Zha Peixin, Ambassador, Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom, 49-51 Portland Place, London WIN 4JL Fax: 020 7636 2981 / 5578 WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli The State Council General Office 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu Beijing 100017 People's Republic of China Fax: 00 86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Ms Wu Aiying Minister of Justice of the People's Republic of China No.10 Nandajie, Chaoyangmen Chaoyang District Beijing 100020 People's Republic of China Fax: 00 86 10 64729863 SHUANG SHUYING China Aid also reports that Shuang Shuying, mother of Beijing house church activist Hua Huiqi, is 'dying in her cell' after being severely beaten. Huiqi, who was jailed for six months earlier this year, says that police frequently told him his mother would be released if he gave up his work. In a recent statement, he said his family have been harassed continually: large groups of police occupy the house, windows have been smashed, electricity cut off, the front door sealed. A powerful light is trained on his bedroom window. 'Now all my family has lost their freedom,' says Huiqi. 'Please pray for the Chinese police and ask God to soften their heart and pray for the early release of my mother.' LATEST NEWS OF HUA HUIQI China Aid reports that Pastor Hua Huiqi was attacked by members of the PSB (Public Security Bureau) on October 11 when he was beaten unconscious. Then he was sent to Beijing Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Hospital. He regained consciousness on the morning of October 14. 'Whether I live or die, it doesn't matter,' said Pastor Hua. 'As long as Christ shines on me, and the gospel and Christ's love is spread.' The photo (courtesy China Aid) shows Hua after the attack in his hospital room. More than two dozen police disguised as doctors surrounded the room to block visitors. PRISONERS OF FAITH RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry gives pastoral care and practical support to Christians imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ, and their families. We encourage supporters to pray for prisoners, write letters of encouragement, campaign for their release, and give financially to support this vital work. Every month an individual Christian prisoner is featured in our email alert, along with guidelines for writing letters. SIGN UP HERE to get our FREE Prisoners of Faith monthly email alert. (If you live outside the UK and Ireland, please send an email requesting the alert to info@releaseinternational.org) SEE PAST ALERTS HELP PRISONERS OF FAITH HOW YOU CAN HELP PRISONERS OF FAITH When a Christian is imprisoned for their faith, as is increasingly common in countries such as China, North Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam and others, the whole family suffers. Children are separated from their mother or father; wives from their husbands. If the family breadwinner is jailed, the children and older dependents often suffer financially as the main source of family income is lost, perhaps for several years. In the worst cases of imprisonment and torture, the family member may never be able to work fully again. That's why Release International's Prisoners of Faith ministry gives practical support to both Christians imprisoned for their faith, as well as their suffering families. With your help, RI gives practical support for prisoners and their families, pastoral care and encouragement, as well as legal advice where appropriate. In today's world, we can't stop repressive regimes from unjustly imprisoning Christians. But we can "remember those in prison" (Hebrews 13:3) by our prayers and gifts. Please support Christian prisoners and their families today by completing our web form. Thank you. Bushra Anwer's husband was unjustly imprisoned for a year under Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, which are often used abusively against Christians . Bushra was left to look after their four children on her own. "We just want to live together as a family," she said. Christians who are imprisoned for their faith by repressive regimes must often endure the most appalling prison conditions. In Pakistan, for example, prisons originally built by the British over 150 years ago are severely over-crowded. Prisoners endure unhygienic conditions, poor food and almost non-existent healthcare. Many suffer from TB. They may be physically and mentally abused by prison staff, as well as other prisoners, especially if theirs is a high-profile case. Christian prisoners may also be systematically tortured, as is the case in China, North Korea and Vietnam, leaving them with permanent physical and mental scars. Caring for both prisoners and their families RI's prison visitor Sohail visits the family of a Christian prisoner in Pakistan. RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry cares for both Christians unjustly imprisoned for their faith, and their dependent families, in a number of ways by providing: Pastoral support Prayer Practical aid, such as gift parcels Legal assistance In Pakistan, for example, RI's prison visitor Sohail has helped distribute hundreds of gift parcels to needy prisoners and families at Christmas. Parcels have contained food, soap, clothes, a blanket and Christian literature. Each parcel reminds prisoners and their families that they have not been forgotten by their wider Christian family. "The big problem is this," says Sohail, "nobody supports the families. Even churches, even organisations, even the government doesn't provide the support, like finances or food. No pastor wants to visit the family for prayer." Sohail has also persuaded prison authorities to allow Christian prisoners to have their own facilities for prayer and worship, which had previously been denied them. Answered prayers: prisoners released RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry helps provide legal advice and assistance through trusted local partners. In Pakistan, for example, RI's partners CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement) helped release Bushra Anwer's husband Anwer Masih, who had been falsely accused of blasphemy. After his release, RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry continued to support the family, who, like others in their position, were forced to live in hiding. A global ministry RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry began in 2004 with the appointment of our first national prison visitor in Pakistan, Sohail. Our vision however is to see similar local Christian prison visitors established in many other countries which are hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we can "remember those in prison" (Hebrews 13:3). Your support for Prisoners of Faith is vital, and will enable us to increase the impact of this life-changing ministry. How you can help RI depends on the prayers and gifts of supporters in the UK and Ireland to support its work around the world. If you would like to support RI's Prisoners of Faith ministry, please use our web form. You can also help Christian prisoners by praying for them and their families, and by writing postcards or letters of encouragement. If you would like to receive regular news of how you can pray and act to support Christian prisoners, and you have an email address, please use the web form to sign up for our free Prisoners of Faith monthly email alert service. Please note: if you live outside the UK and Ireland, and would like to receive our Prisoners of Faith email alert, please send an email requesting this to info@releaseinternational.org SEE PAST EMAIL ALERTS