(Chengdu, Sichuan province) On February 19, Early Rain Covenant Church member Kang Fuguo and his family of three were illegally stopped on their way home by security guards from Southwest Minzu University.
Guards prevented his family from entering their rented house on campus. He called the police, but instead of letting him enter his house, the police took the family to the station and waited to negotiate with the landlord.
Persecution at the university
Recently, Southwest Minzu University has been exerting pressure on Kang Guofu’s landlord, asking the landlord to force Kang’s family to move out. A few days ago, the Christian Spring Festival couplets that Kang Guofu’s family pasted on the door of the house were torn off by the school security staff. The security officer had a bad attitude and told them not to profess their beliefs in public areas.
Development with Dai Zhichao
According to the Early Rain Covenant Church, the police and street personnel who started guarding the door of Pastor Dai Zhichao’s apartment left. Dai Zhichao said in a message on WeChat:
Shalom. Many Christians may have forgotten about Sunday worship, but some people [the security personnel] do not forget. They guard here day and night. We are again guarded day and night, again separated from others, again regarded as prisoners, and again long for the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Returning to the place of chains is also returning to the place of freedom. Thank you for your concerns. The Lord will guide the way forward! Sometimes I can’t help but sigh and think. It seems that there is a drama being re-enacted in front of my door. The drama is that of contemporary Chinese history. It is also the drama of the history of Christian missions in China.
More harassment of Early Rain leadership
This morning, Deputy Deacon Zeng Qingtao of Early Rain Covenant Church was also stopped at his home by several policemen and street personnel. They restricted his freedom until noon.
Prayers from the church
Early Rain Covenant Church issued a letter of intercession, asking brothers and sisters of the church to pray for Kang Guofu’s family so that they will not be evicted from their home at will.
We pray that these policemen will have a God-fearing heart and not condone crimes, but instead, protect the rights of citizens’ legal residency. During these years, many members of the church have experienced various persecutions and expulsions. But God has inspired us to love this city more, and weep for the desolation of this city. May the merciful Lord protect all His loved ones, for He is a shield around us. May the Lord make those evildoers repent. Their evil deeds done to the Lord’s children will accumulate God’s wrath upon them. How will they stand the Lord’s judgment?
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
