(Guangzhou – July 31, 2025) Guangfu Church, founded by Pastor Ma Chao (also known as Mark) in 2005, is a Chinese Christian community committed to the faith and pastoral care of house churches. Since 2015, the church has faced systematic suppression from various levels of government departments in Baiyun District, Guangzhou City. Now, as the church marks its 20th anniversary, the persecution has not eased but instead intensified.
Tactics of Suppression by Authorities
Over the years, Guangfu Church has endured pressure from multiple agencies, including the Religious Affairs Bureau, public security, state security, and subdistrict offices. Methods of suppression have included forcibly sealing off gathering venues, welding doors shut, and interfering with the overseas education background of the pastor. During the church’s 10th anniversary in 2015, multiple government departments jointly raided the church, confiscated supplies of the church, and assaulted several coworkers and Christians.
Pastor Ma’s Repeated Detention and Intimidation
Pastor Ma, the church’s founder, has repeatedly been placed under house arrest, often without any legal procedures or documentation. He was taken to villas or hotels and had his freedom restricted. When Pastor Ma questioned, “What crime have I committed?” the response was: “You have not committed a crime if you had, you would be in prison already. We are just following orders from higher-ups.”
20th Anniversary Marked by Renewed Pressure
The year 2025 was meant to be an important moment as it is the church’s 20th anniversary. Although there were no plans for a public celebration, hoping instead for a quiet and peaceful observance, the local government failed to honor its previous commitment of “no petitioning, no interference.” After a new leadership came into power, past promises were openly revoked, their stance became tougher, and pressure intensified. Methods of government intervention included forcing the church to replace fire safety equipment and inflating the cost at prices far above the market rate. Authorities also installed high-definition surveillance cameras at the church entrance. They also threatened Christians by declaring “Guangfu is an illegal church,” coercing them to join the state-sanctioned Three-Self Church.
Retaliation Against Church Members
In some cases, individuals who attended gatherings were punished by having their welfare benefits revoked. One brother with a disabled child lost his subsistence guarantee, and a village official mocked him by saying, “Don’t you believe in Jesus? Let Jesus give you your subsistence allowance.”
Under such harsh conditions, the number of attendees has clearly declined, but Pastor Ma remains steadfast, stating, “Even if there is only one person who comes, we will continue to gather.”
Amid these hardships, we earnestly ask the body of Christ to pray for Pastor Ma and Guangfu Church, asking God to protect, to grant faith and endurance, and to uphold them on the path of persecution.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)
