(Zhengzhou, Henan province—May 31, 2023) On the morning of May 21, 2023, joint law enforcement stormed Zhongxing Christian Church. The Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, Civil Affairs Bureau, and the Urban Management Brigade went into the building and destroyed personal property.
Banned
A ban notice was sent to the church, and a seal was placed on the front door. Church members left personal belongings at the scene, which were stolen. This is the second time since 2019 that the authorities have raided the church.
Civil Affairs Bureau
The banning decision letter issued by the Civil Affairs Bureau of Jinshui District, Zhengzhou City, read:
The banned organization: Zhongxing Christian Church, Religious Organization
Head of the organization: Ma Teng
Address: 14th floor of Zhuxie Building
“Upon investigation, the said organization is carrying out activities in the name of a social organization without registration, which violates the regulations of Article 35 of the Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Social Entities “Any organization, without approval, carries out preparatory activities for social organizations; or without registration, carries out any activities in the name of any social organization; as well as any social organization, whose registration has been revoked, continue to carry out activities in the name of any social organization, will be banned by the registration management authorities, and its illegal properties will be confiscated; any act which constitutes a crime will be held criminally responsible; for any act that does not constitute a crime, shall be given security management punishment.”
Unofficial organization
Authorities decided to take administrative action to ban the church. Because the house church is not officially recognized as a social organization, the police were allowed to destroy property and steal personal belongings. Other CCP-sanctioned churches don’t face this level of persecution. Instead, they are brainwashed to worship Xi Jinping.
Previous raid
Zhongxing Christian Church is a Chinese evangelical fellowship in Zhengzhou City led by Pastor Ma Teng. The church was last raided on September 14, 2018. It is reported that at around 7 AM that day, the police blocked off the sidewalk near the church. Then, hundreds of police, including special police, suddenly came to the entrance of the church and forced their way in. Although believers barricaded the doors behind them and tried their best to resist, the doors were eventually broken into. Officers ransacked the church’s finances and belongings. The police also asked Christians to show their IDs.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
