Christians Arrested in China

Police detained eleven elderly Christians from Early Rain Covenant Church last Thursday, as they gathered to read together in a teahouse in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Most have chronic illnesses, including He Futao, 73, who has struggled with lung cancer and fainting. By Saturday morning, nine had been released, but Elder Wu Wuqing and Brother Shen Xiaoqing remain in custody, accused of “illegally organizing proselytizing activities.” This comes after many years of harassment, surveillance, accusations and arrests of Early Rain church members. (ChinaAid, September 14)

Six leaders of a house church in Kaili, Guizhou province, China were arrested earlier this summer for holding Sunday School classes for children: Wei Yongqiang, He Jinbao, Quan Xiaolong, Long Jian, Cheng Yongbing, and Zhou Guixia. (CA, May 13)

Eight members of Beijing Zion Church (listed below), detained nearly a year ago, have been suffering from “severe overcrowding, inadequate medical care and harsh disciplinary practices…. Released detainees and family members report that 36 people sleep on a communal platform bed in a detention room of about 40 square meters. The room has a washbasin on one side and an open toilet on the other. During Beihai’s hot, humid summers, the windows reportedly have no screens; in winter, they have no glass covering. Daily life reportedly includes mandatory political re-education and physical punishment.” (CA, September 10 and 3)

Pray for the Zion 8 by name: Pastor Wang Lin, Pastor Gao Yingjia, Elder Wang Zhong, Pastor Yin Huibin, Pastor Liu Zhenbin, Pastor Lin Shucheng, Pastor Wang Cong and Wu Qiuyu. Their trial, previously scheduled for August 14–18, was delayed, and their lawyer, Wang Xiahong fled with her family to Taiwan to seek asylum, due to mounting pressure against her from China’s Communist government.

God miraculously answered prayer with the release of Zion Church’s founder, Pastor Ezra Jin in July, after US President Donald Trump talked with China’s leader Xi Jinping in May. On September 24, the two world leaders will meet in Washington D.C. Let’s pray for the release of yet more prisoners of faith.

China is listed among the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians due to high surveillance and persecution of believers, as well as destruction and/or closure of churches.

Lord, please be a Shield around each of these and all Chinese believers facing persecution. Protect them from illness and harm. Release them quickly, and safely reunite them with their families. Comfort their loved ones as they await news about them. Be near to their congregations, and grow their numbers all the more. Deepen their faith and raise up yet more leaders to faithfully share Your good news with the lost and disciple believers. Many other Christians have also been wrongfully detained, Father. Please comfort all believers and give them new strength for each new day. Fill prison cells with Your felt presence and angels. Protect them from torture and provide for all their needs. Make the way for their quick and smooth release. You have opened prison doors and walked Your servants out unharmed before. Do it again, Lord. Use every Christian in jail as such a bold witness, countless prisoners and guards will give their lives to Christ. Anoint persecuted Christians, as You did Your apostles in the New Testament, to courageously preach the gospel, even in chains.

Be a Shield around all Christians in China, protecting them from persecution and arrest. Hide them from those who would choose to do them harm. Make the way for their safety and use them to show the lost what Your love looks like. Grow Your church by the millions, Sovereign God. Perform signs and miracles and wonders to turn all eyes to You. Heal the lame. Open blind eyes to see. Raise the dead to life. Awaken China to Your love. Steal into every home with Your Holy Spirit and touch every heart, family and village. Make the way for Your good news to be preached in every language to every heart in a way they can easily understand. Give them courage to lay down their superstitions and fears to follow the one True God. Show Yourself strong, O God. Show the lost Your love, Your grace, Your redemption so purely and brightly, they will seek You with all their hearts and find You. Open up ways for those who have yet to hear Your good news to connect with other Christians and churches on the internet, so they can ask questions and find You are the answer.

We ask You, Lord, for Xi Jinping (Shee Jeen Peeng). Lift the veil from his eyes so he can see You as You truly are. Break the chains that bind him to Satan’s purposes. Meet him in his dreams night after night showing him the way to salvation. And do the same with all his staff and officers and every person in a government position all throughout China. Speak to them so loudly they can’t deny You are God. Make a way where there seems to be no way for Your church to grow and spread into every village, every neighborhood, every heart and home. Yes, awaken all of China to Your truth. In Your name. Amen.

For the Chinese-English deep Bible study workbook, A Strong and Courageous Life, and for Christian leadership devotionals, like Dare to Become a Kingdom Culter Leader, Vol 1–2, and other Bible studies for overcoming the enemy and walking in oneness with Christ and others, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.

Come join our army as we pray for the nations, for persecuted Christians, for their persecutors and for seekers who don’t know how to find Christ.

Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by finding gifts for those you love at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:

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