A pastor and several staff from a house church network in northern China have been arrested and taken into custody by authorities while preparing for a Christian event.
Initially, they were placed under administrative detention, a short-term (normally does not exceed 15 days) administrative punishment usually reserved for minor violations that are not considered crimes such as fraud and robbery, etc. A few days later, their cases were escalated to criminal detention, a measure used in criminal investigations that can lead to formal prosecution and trial. They are now awaiting trial. Currently, they are being held in a detention center, cut off from the outside world and unable to communicate with their family members and fellow believers.
The house church where the pastor and his coworkers serve is a large congregation with more than 1,000 believers. Due to the authorities’ increasing control over religious gatherings, the church has already adapted by meeting in smaller groups, like fellowships of about ten people and Sunday services of around 100 attendees held in different locations.
Joel*, an Open Doors local partner serving in this region, explains: “The pastor and his coworkers were not detained simply because they were preparing a Christian activity at that moment. The authorities had already been monitoring their church, and this operation appears to have been carried out according to a predetermined list of individuals for detention. This house church has existed for many years, and because of its large number of believers, it has become a target of increased scrutiny and suppression.”
Joel adds, “We are now worried that the authorities may use the church’s offerings as grounds for fraud charge against the detained pastor and coworkers. In recent years, similar cases have occurred in house churches in China in which pastors and church workers from house churches were convicted of fraud because of church offerings. Please pray for this situation.”
*Name changed for security purposes
Please pray:
- Pray for the detained pastor and church workers. May God protect them both physically and spiritually. May He comfort them and strengthen their faith. May He also protect and comfort their families.
- Pray for the house church they serve. May God empower the church with His strength. May He unite the believers with one heart as they face persecution together.
- Pray for other house churches and believers in North China and across the country. Ask God to grant them protection and courage as they endure these challenges.
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