ChinaAid
December 19, 2009
December 19, 2009
BEIJING
–Following the World Evangelical Alliance’s visits with TSPM leaders in China and their positive verdict on church life and religious freedom, members of the Chinese House Church Alliance remember the cases of intense Christian persecution of 2009:
The Blessed 2009 Through Persecutions
A Review of Year 2009 by Chinese House Church Alliance
A Review of Year 2009 by Chinese House Church Alliance
“ You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.”– Psalm 65:11
As Christmas is approaching, the Chinese House Church Alliance (CHCA) bids a farewell to the tough year 2009 and greets 2010 with a confidence in God’s providence. In 2009 the Chinese government continued its persecution of the House Church Movement (HCM) more intensively and CHCA as with all members of the House Church Movement have suffered a great deal.
The following cases of persecution in 2009 includes, but is not limited to, member churches of CHCA, their staff, and the president Rev. Zhang Mingxuan of CHCA, believers in other house churches, and even the Three-self Patriotic Movement Church (TSPM or TSPMC) in Municipalities, autonomous regions, and provinces:
February 8-11: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife Xie Fenglan were detained by the Nanyang government in Henan Province.
March 21: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan was arrested by the authorities of the Tongzhou District of Beijing and transferred to Nanyang police.
June 14: TSPM Changchun Church in Ninan city of Shandong Province was torn down receiving only a pitiful compensation.
June 21: HCM Qiu-yu Church in Chengdu city of Sichuan Province was shut down as an illegal organization with its properties confiscated.
July 4- 6: CHCA held its fourth annual conference in Nanyang, He-Nan, but at the end of the conference it was raided by the Nanyang government and the attendees were detained and interrogated.
August 6: Xiayi Religious Bureau of He-Nan issued a verdict and canceled the house church of Sangdong village, Sanggu.
August 25: A registered house church in Rizhao city, Shandong Province was called an “ illegal religious training program.” As a punishment while the church was holding the commencement of the second session training program, Religious Bureau officials and Donggang police raided the meeting and confiscated Bibles, computers, etc. The church’s two meeting places at Shijiu Port Haibin No. 2 Road and another at Huanghai No.1 Road #36 were de-registered.
September 13: Around 3 AM, the local government raided the Fushan branch of Linfeng Church in Shanxi province and its Gospel Shoe Factory. The policemen beat up and injured a few dozen of the church members, left many rooms and facilities in ruins, and confiscated all of personal Bibles, cellphones and money of those believers.
September 23 to October 3: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife Xie Fenglan were detained by Nanyang government, Henan province.
October 13: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife went to Shanxi Linfen for the purpose of visiting the persecuted Brothers and Sisters there, but they were detained by local police in the train station upon their arrival and transferred to the Nanyang police of Henan.
November 10: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife went to Shanghai and visited the persecuted members of Wangbang church, but they were arrested by the local police and transferred to Nanyang police for a detention until the 18th.
December 7: The defense lawyer for the defendant Uyghur Christian church leader Alimujiang Yimiti learned that his client had been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Xinjiang Kashigar Region Middle Level People’s Court on August 6th.
In the past year, as the Chinese House Church Movement continues its revival, the Satanic attacks have increased more intensively with its anti-Christ evil power through Chinese Communist government who never stops their violation of citizen rights and religious freedom.
The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that this is often the case for Christians stating, “ in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. However, the storm of persecution never stops the growth of the Chinese House Church, for the persecuted Brothers and Sisters hold their faith firmly continuing to meet outdoors in the snow and rain after their church was canceled or blocked by government and even praying for the persecutors. The passions and love for their Lord never decreases, and the confidence grows through the “nutrition of persecutions.” In the land of China in a hostile political environment Brothers and Sisters of House Church live, love, and serve as light and salt relying on the Rock of Jesus Christ and they bear abundant fruit to glorify God before the world as a great encouragement to each other and also to the churches around the world.
In 2009 the ministry of CHCA has developed by God’s grace. Rev. Zhang and his coworkers set their footprints all over of China for the training of church workers, pastoral counseling and the ordination of many house church pastors, elders and they have brought effective ministry among those churches. After his sermon Christians and Politics, based on new visions from God, Rev. Zhang preached on the Freedom from all Kinds of Bondage and The Vision of Daniel. Through his personal experiences of persecution Rev. Zhang motivated many coworkers and Brothers and Sisters in their love for the Lord, patience in suffering and persecutions, relying on the Lord consistent, and fighting against Satan’s power.
CHCA carries on the Great Commission of the Gospel of the Lord, and holds strongly to the principle of “serving the Church, promoting social welfare, and obeying laws.” Through appealing for persecuted churches, defending social disadvantaged groups, criticizing corrupted government, civil disobedience for the sake of Christan Faith and human universal values, CHCA promotes righteousness, justice and love by the help of God’s mighty power and the union of world churches.
March 6: Rev. Zhang wrote a personal letter for the forth time to Chinese President Hu Jintao on be half of CHCA to reemphasize CHCA’s principle of loving God and the nation, exposing the corruption of the local government and law enforcement officials, and criticizing the persecution of house churches by the local police and religious bureaus.
August 25: Rev. Zhang addressed to Chinese President Mr. Hu Jintao a personal “o pen” letter for the forth time for a appeal of terminating government’s persecutions of the House Churches.
November 4: CHCA issued an written appeal for a worldwide prayer campaign for the persecuted house churches in China.
As the President of CHCA, Rev. Zhang and his wife visited and served persecuted churches often providing counseling ministry. He is also an active defender for legal rights of Christians and religious freedom. In 2009, they were tremendously helpful and encouraging for those persecuted churches, such as Henan Xiayi, Shanxi Linfen, Shandong Jinan, Shandong Rizhao and Shanghai Wanbang making the sacrifice of being detained many times by police.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 5:10). The pilgrim process of CHCA in 2009 is heaped with trials. We trust in God that He is our fortress and our hiding place and he strengthens our hearts with boldness. The Lord preserves us, inspires us and helps us. Thus we have victories, and will continue to have them by his grace to us.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”(2 Corinthians 4:8-9). We hope and believe in 2010 God will continually preserve and lead our ministry in His rich grace and blessings so that CHCA may offer a fragrance sacrifice before Church in China and in the world. Amen!
Appendix: Summary of the Events of 2009 for Chinese House Church Alliance:
1. February 8-11, Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife Xie Fenglan were detained by Nanyang government of Hainan Province.
2. March 6, Rev. Zhang Mingxuan addressed a open letter to 9 members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee.
3. March 21, Rev. Zhang Mingxuan was arrested by Tongzhou District of Beijing, transferred to Nanyang police.
4. July 4-6, CHCA held its fourth annual conference in Nanyang of Heman and for the first time ordained pastors and elders as a new central leadership of CHCA but at the end it was raided by Nanyang government with the attenders detained and interrogated.
5. August 25, Rev. Zhang addressed Chinese President Mr. Hu Jintao a personal open letter for the forth time for a appeal of terminating government’s persecutions on House Church.
6. September 23 to October 3, Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife Xie Fenglan were detained by Nanyang government, He-Nan province.
7. October 13, Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife went to Shanxi Linfen to visit the persecuted Brothers and Sisters there but they were detained by local police in the train station upon their arrival and transferred to Nanyang police of Henan.
8. November 4, CHCA issued an written appeal for a worldwide prayer campaign for the persecuted house churches in China.
9. November 10, Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife went to Shanghai and visited the persecuted members of Wangbang church but they were arrested by the local police and transferred to Nanyang police for a detention until the 18th.
10. December 5, a book of Rev. Zhang, the Grace of the Lord in a Trying Life, was published and is being translated into English.
Statement issued by the Chinese House Church Alliance, December 12, 2009.
Click here for a PDF version of the CHCA Year in Review.
Click here for a PDF version of the CHCA Year in Review.
China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org
