 |
| More than 425 churches have been affected by Zhejiang’s persecution campaign since early 2014. (Photo: China Aid) |
China Aid
By Rachel Ritchie
(Hangzhou, Zhejiang–May 11, 2015) Shendong Church in China’s coastal Zhejiang province was forcibly demolished on April 28 in continuation of the province-wide “Three Rectifications and One Demolition” campaign.
Church members said authorities from the Xiaoshan District of the provincial capital Hangzhou claimed the land on which the church was built belonged to the government.
The church has previously submitted requests to the local religious affairs bureau and other government agencies, requesting that their location be approved and finalized but never received an answer.
Following the demolition, the church’s pastor contacted a government official named Wang, who was in charge of the demolition and the church’s subsequent relocation, and was told the government needed two months to find and approve a new gathering site. The church demanded that the government find a new site immediately.
For the time being, the church has been meeting in a nearby clubhouse.
The demolition occurred on the one-year anniversary of the demolition of Sanjiang Church, a mega-church in Zhejiang’s Wenzhou, which was one of the first major church demolitions in the persecution campaign.
China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org