Source:         www.ChinaAid.org

Date:            May 8, 2008

Seven House Church Leaders in Shandong Detained for Bible Study; One Pastor from Taiwan Expelled; One House Church Pastor in Jilin Wounded

 

China has been intensifying its campaign against the House Church Christians recently. CAA learned that in the morning of May 8 (Beijing Time), three house church leaders in Shandong province were detained while organizing a Bible study group. One pastor from Taiwan was expelled from China immediately. He will not be allowed to return to China for 5 years. Meanwhile, four other church leaders from the same province have been detained since the beginning of May. One pastor from Jilin province was beaten on May 4 for his independent church activities.

CAA also learned that one House Church pastor in Yanji City, Jilin province was beaten and wounded on May 4. Pastor Hao Yuji was arrested by the PSB of Yanji city while he was preaching in his church. He was told by the PSB officials he should dissolve his church. When pastor Hao asked why, he was beaten. Both his head and chest were wounded. Pastor Hao left the government sanctioned corrupted Three-Self church and established a House Church a few years ago. Moreover, in Jiaxiang County Shandong province four House Church Christian leaders have been detained. 25-yeaqr-old Ms.Qiao Lei and 24-year-old Ms. Wang Qin were arrested at Yantun village, Wangtun town by the PSB of Jiaxiang County under the accusation of being ‘evil cult members”; on May 3, another two Christians Mr. Cao Guanggen and Mr. Jin Heshui (42-year-old) were also detained. All four are still being held at the PSB office of Jiaxiang County.The Chinese government has been intensifying its crackdown against House Church Christians recently because of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. CAA urges the Chinese government to immediately release these detained innocent House Church pastors and believers.