(Suzhou, Jiangsu Province) On September 28th, Pastor Jin Mingri and the pastoral team of Beijing Zion Church posted a prayer request letter. Two Christians from Zion Church were detained for more than 100 hours
Suzhou police raided the Sunday service of Zion Church with 31 Christians in attendance. Officers took everyone away, including Huang Duojia and Li Mingjie.
Background
Huang became a Christian in college. After finishing her theology study in seminary, she began to serve her church and shared the gospel all over China. On the other hand, Li Mingjie was born in 1999. He is a second-generation Christian, devoted to the church since a young age. All other arrested Christians have been released except Huang and Li. They were held at Wumenqiao Police Station for more than 100 hours. Their family hasn’t heard anything about them yet.
Pastor Jin Mingri and the pastoral team said it’s their honor to have these two Godly fellow Christians, and they are devoted to standing with them.
Beijing Zion Church
Beijing Zion Church is the biggest house church in China’s capital. The church once had more than 1,500 members. On September 9, 2018, the Beijing government issued a ban notice to Beijing Zion Church according to Articles 3, 9, and 11 of “Provisional Measures of Banning Illegal NGOs” for “organizing activities in the name of an unregistered social group” and violating Item 1, Article 3 of “Regulation on Registration and Administration of Social Organizations”. After that, Pastor Jin Mingri and other church members experienced various levels of persecution. Some preachers and members were arrested due to their Christian beliefs.
Heightened persecution
Zion Church calls the year 2023 a turbulent year for God’s church in China. In recent years, churches all over the country experienced frequent persecution. Many Christians are charged with “fraud” or “cult” for attending regular Sunday Service and expressing their faith. Elderly believers are beaten up; faithful servants of God suffer from stigmatization; loving families are separated. “Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. (Acts 14:22)
Prayer requests:
- Pray for God to strengthen and protect Huang Duojia and Li Mingjie. Be their strength when they feel lonely and weak. May the Holy Spirit be their help.
- Pray for God to destroy the devil’s scheme. No power can ever stop God’s Church. We are willing to bear our cross. May God be our stronghold, and enable us to triumph with His help.
- May God remember persecuted churches, believers, and ministers in China. May we unite in God’s grace and face the turbulence together.
~Ningmeng, ChinaAid Special Reporter
