(Chenzhou City, Hunan province) Public security arrested Chinese Christian Zeng Chuandao in May. After he served his 15-day detention, Zeng was charged with supposed illegal business operations. His wife, Wanjuan Quan, calls on Christians to pray for him.
Arrested
After a Sunday service on May 14th, the Lanshan Public Security Bureau arrested Zeng Chuandao. He suffered a 15-day administrative detention until May 30th. Police placed him in criminal detention for “illegal business operations” on June 1st.
Normal Christian family
Wanjuan Quan reports that her family is an ordinary Christian family. The couple has three young. Quan works at a factory, and Zeng is a Christian teacher, but he has no leadership role at his house church. In her open letter, Quan wrote that she never expected Zeng to become a prisoner for Christ.
At present, Wanjuan Quan has appointed a lawyer to intervene in the case as soon as possible.
Prayers for her husband
Quan prayed for God’s favor on her family. For Zeng Chuandao, she prayed that he would not succumb to any coercion. She also prayed that the authorities would handle the case in fairness and justice.
Illegal Business Operations
Communist officials continually test new ways to persecute house church Christians. As of late, Chinese preachers have been charged with “illegal business.” These charges have become commonplace for pastors and leaders. Meanwhile, police also target principals and teachers of private Christian schools.
Why is this a charge?
Illegal business is the Communist Party’s route to cut the revenue of house churches or Christian organizations. This is because churches in China must register with the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement to be considered legal.
Tithes and offerings
So, when a house church accepts tithes and offerings, they operate as an “illegal business.” Some Chinese prosecutors go as far as to say these pastors defraud their congregants.
Why not join a state-sanctioned church?
Due to Sinicization, the Three-Self Church has been reduced to another arm of propaganda for the Communist Regime. Some churches do more to promote China President Xi Jinping than state media. Many Christians with genuine faith choose to join a house church to escape Sinicization.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
