(Guangzhou, Guangdong province) Police broke in and raided Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church for a second time this month. Pastor Huang Xiaoning and co-workers of the church negotiated with the police at the door of the conference room. In the end, congregants were removed from the premises.
June 4th raid
On Sunday, June 4th, multiple police officers barged into service without their uniforms. They claimed that there were reports of a crime, so they came to investigate. After asking some questions, they told the congregants to leave. “Religious events shouldn’t be held here per the national regulations,” one officer said. Pastor Huang Xiaoning questioned him about which laws support his statement. The officer responded that the Religious Affairs Regulations. However, Pastor Huang Xiaoning argued that the more recent regulations do not supersede China’s Constitution.
Jurisdiction
Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church argued with the police for some time, especially with concerns about jurisdiction. Pastor Huang asked why the police were handling an “illegal religious matter” instead of the religious affairs bureau. They responded that they received a report from a concerned citizen. Their job was to handle safety and security issues. After finding illegal religious activity, police acted “accordingly.”
A coordinated attack
In reality, the police were sent to harass Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church. Last month, police raided five church locations simultaneously. After a coordinated effort, they followed the church to their temporary venue. Pastor Huang Xiaoning warned the officers to enforce laws accordingly. Then, the police called the religious affairs bureau and notified them to handle the issue.
Continuing the service
Police did everything they could to get Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church to stop worshipping. At one point, a muscular, undercover officer suddenly entered and intended to drag Pastor Huang Xiaoning outside. Meanwhile, many churchgoers tried to continue the Sunday service. They kept asking “What law have we broken?” But the police would not answer any further, requiring everyone to return to the station.
Pastor Huang Xiaoning’s escape
The pastor said his church was not obligated to cooperate with the investigation. Then, the whole congregation stood up and left through the wall of undercover cops. Police intended to take Pastor Huang Xiaoning. However, he left successfully thanks to a few Christians’ protection.
Background
Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church is a house church that refuses to join the government-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Authorities have repeatedly raided their Sunday services since 2018. Pastor Huang’s longest detention was 5 days, which he used to fast and pray.
The coolest locksmith
One time, Pastor Huang received administrative detention because he cut the lock on his church building. Police sealed their building arbitrarily. He used an electric saw and let his congregation inside. Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church called him “the coolest and most handsome locksmith in the history of the Kingdom.”
Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church roamed to various venues after losing its gathering place. Despite the difficulties, attendance increased considerably.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
