Imprisoned Elder Zhang Chunlei: “Do not stop gathering with other Christians”

Elder Zhang Chunlei of Guiyang Ren’ai Reformed Church. 
(Photo: ChinaAid resource)

(Guiyang, Guizhou Province—May 14, 2021) On May 10, 2021, when Lawyer of Elder Zhang Chunlei (Guiyang Ren’ai Reformed Evangelical Church) met with him again in the detention center, Elder Zhang confessed that initially after being seized, he had worried and felt uneasy. Now, however, through constant prayer, Elder Zhang said, God has enabled him to entrust things completely to Him [God].

God also gave Elder Zhang special guidance so that even though the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities have imprisoned him, he can encourage fellow Christians not to stop gathering together.
On May 09, Elder Zhang sent greetings to pastors and elders, also fellow servants of Jesus Christ. He prayerfully asked about the safety of his church Brothers, Sisters, and their families. He hopes that his family as well as fellow Brothers and Sisters entrust their own safety and the future of the church to the Lord. He prays that those he knows have peace of mind, joy, and gratitude.

Elder Zhang asked church members, “Please pray for my inner peace of mind, and for me to maintain good health while I am held in detention. Through his lawyer, he reminded others that the Bible teaches Brothers and Sisters not to stop gathering—no matter the circumstances. Not distressed by his experience in custody, Elder Zhang believes God will never do anything wrong, nor will He [God] regret what He has done. 

Elder Zhang encourages himself to:

Follow God’s will only, and do not ask nor worry about the future.

As for the CCP’s fabricated “crime of fraud” against him, Elder Zhang said:

The church accepts offerings according to the teaching of the Bible, followed by churches all over the world. I do not think my behavior constitutes a crime. At the same time, I have no resentment in my heart. I love the police, State security officials, and the prosecutors who handled my case. I also love China, my country, and I pray for those who live here.
Before transferring him to criminal detention for 37 days for “suspected fraud,” CCP authorities administratively detained Elder Zhang for 11 days from March 16, Government officials formally arrested him for “suspected fraud” on May 1. The CCP has specifically created this charge to suppress the family charge. Using this and other fabricated suspicions and charges, CCP authorities have regularly summoned, and detained many Christians. They have also routinely raided numerous houses and apartments where they live.
Due to a barrage of illegal practices that Guizhou police officers have conducted against Guiyang Ren’ai Church’s Christians, illegally summoning, detaining, and seizing them, numerous lawyers have successively filed administrative lawsuits against the National Bureau of Religious Affairs, and the Public Security Bureau on their behalf.

Guiyang Ren’ai Reformed Ren’ai Church’s intercession letter states:

For two thousand years, God has called Christians to serve Him and the church as elders. He had called Christians to be saints, obedient to Him, and to serve the church and Christ’s servants.

What does us obeying our calling have to do with “fraud?”

 

We ask for you to please continue to pray for Elder Zhang Chunlei and the Ren’ai Reformed Church.

Currently, we also notice that more and more churches in other areas also suffer injustices. We willingly continue to look up to God’s grace for many persecuted, Chinese family churches .

 

May the Lord guard his servants, and keep them faithful in the midst of adversity. May He feed His flock.

May the Lord strengthen and support our persecuted Brothers and Sisters, so that they see more are with us than with them.

…We are hard pressed on every side, 
but not crushed; perplexed, 
but not in despair; persecuted, 
but not abandoned; 
struck down, but not destroyed. 
We always carry around in our body 
the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
may also be revealed in our body. 
 For we who are alive 
are always being given over to death 
for Jesus’ sake, 
so that his life 
may also be revealed 
in our mortal body.
                               ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-11

~ Yu Bing, Special ChinaAid correspondent


###
not forsaking the assembling 
of ourselves together, 
as is the manner of some, 
but exhorting one another, 
and so much the more 
as you see the Day approaching.
                                                        ~ Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
China Aid exposes abuses in order to stand in solidarity with the persecuted and promote religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law. If you wish to partner with us in helping those persecuted by the Chinese government, please click the button below to make a charitable donation.


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