House Churches Ready to Welcome President Bush; Deeply concerned over President Bush’s Second Visit to Government Sanctioned Church
Posted Aug 07 20083 days before the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing, China Aid Association has learned that House Church Alliance President, Zhang Mingxuan along with his wife has been detained by Chinese Authorities. The two along with a fellow pastor are being held in an undisclosed location in Henan Province.
The arrest comes on the eve of President George Bush’s visit to China for the Beijing Olympic Games. President Bush has been a stalwart supporter of the Chinese House Church and Religious freedom within China since his inauguration. In order to further his commitment to the House Church, President Bush has committed to visit the Kuanjie Protestant Church at the behest of the Chinese Government. According to PRC officials the Kuanjie Protestant Church is a Government sanctioned church which has incorporated House Church Christians into its ranks therefore validating to the World the CPC’s tolerance of religious worshipers. In reality however, China’s embracing of Kuanjie Church is a misleading and deceptive ploy used by China to deceive the international community into believing the CPC is no longer persecuting Christians.
Upon further investigation of Kuanjie Church, CAA has found that the so called “House Church incorporation”, is nothing more than a series of Government sanctioned “House Cells” that have permission from the CPC to meet outside of the Government sanctioned building. These “cells” are lead by pastors who have been trained and appointed by the Government and who are required to obey all rules dictated by the TSPM (Government) Church. By creating such a system the Chinese Government has created a false sense of inclusion of house churches into mainstream society and has deceived many world and even evangelical leaders into believing China has ceased religious persecution. Unfortunately, this deception has lead to the increasing persecution of the House Churches across China. With outside leaders adding validity to the TSPM churches, House Churches are constantly being painted as dissenters and lawbreakers, while simply trying to worship in true freedom.
China Aid urges President Bush as well as other leaders to not be deceived by the CPC’s ploys to appear as if they are tolerant of Religion while at the same time brutally persecuting House Churches and their members across China.
In order to view a full length letter from House Church Pastor Luke Zhang, outlining the Church as well as President Bush’s visit: [click here]
Issued by CAA August 7, 2008
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August 8th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Just a comment: your link to Pastor Zhang’s letter at the end of your article on president Bush and House Churches is not working.
Michael
August 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am
We should all be praying for China.
August 9th, 2008 at 11:47 am
President Bush needs to keep his dialogue with the Chinese government on allowing freedom of religion in China. We buy a whole lot of merchandise from them and he could use this as a tool in getting them to quit pursecuting their people for worshiping God. Christians especially are good citizens and honorable for any country. Why can’t the Chinese government see that, and Pres. Bush could point that out. Yes, we need to pray for China. We cannot let up on helping these people to be free to pray to Christ and worship Him.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I could not get your link to Pastor Zhang’s letter at the end of the article about President Bush and House Churches to work.
Willard
August 10th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Our prayers are with all God fearing religious Chinese.
Let us always pray that we follow the example of Pope John Paul II:
“BE NOT AFRAID!!”
August 11th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
This all is a difficult way of getting the gospel to all parts of China, with everyone talking about this issue. We must pray for our brothers and sisters in prison, ask the Holy Spirit to sustain them in their times of difficulty, and ask the Holy Spirit to remind them that The Lamb Won!(Revelation 17:14)
August 11th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Aug. 11, 2008 thanks for all the updates.
I hope, Bob, you can finish your PHD here in
thePHIL PA area. Bob Durham, Abington PA
August 13th, 2008 at 9:46 am
I have heard of the brave Christians in China in the house churches and why are they that way,cause they honor GOD’S WORD and preach it and China want’s their people to still bow down to idols,and not hear the truth.If their rulers would only read the Bible they would see that they would have can and DO have the best citizens ever!
August 20th, 2008 at 11:29 am
To all the Believers in China:
We the faithful in America stand proudly alongside you! Despite the problems in our own ranks and nation (which are similar to yours but unfortunately it seems to be moving back instead of forward like yourselves), there is still a remnant among us that stands strong and will never forget our people in the East. Some of us here are even going to a similar format as the Chinese house churches to avoid what we feel is coming persecution, so that the Gospel may continue to go forth unadulterated. In this vein, although my age in your ranks would make me lesser, I am considered what you would call a Lao Da, with the first 8 of what I am working towards being 12 brother Lao Da with me. Although by mee age I am one of the youngest, since God has blessed me with the Word knowledge and the vision to start this Church, I have been granted first among equals Lao Da status. As such, I will gladly covenant with the believers there to provide whatever help may be asked of us that we are blessed with to provide, and as always to stand in prayer with you all for the most prosperous and the most populous nations on Earth. May the peace, prosperity, and protection of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Tom