China Detains Activist Pastor and over 100 Christians

By Townhall. China detained evangelical Pastor Wang Yi as part of raids on his congregation that began Sunday evening. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Early Rain Covenant Church leader and over 100 of the church’s congregants were detained in the latest crackdown by government officials.

“Officials have threatened to close the Early Rain Covenant Church in the central city of Chengdu by the end of the year in keeping with new religious-management regulations,” several of the Church’s congregants told the Journal. . .

Rev. Hong Yujie, another friend of Pastor Wang, told the Journal that he is “the bravest pastor in China today.”

The Journal reports that the pastor wrote a defiant social media post Saturday accusing the Chinese government of attempting to institute “Caesar worship” by elevating president Xi Jinping.

He wrote that the government’s elevation of the Chinese president was “morally incompatible with the Christian faith and with all those who uphold freedom of the mind and thought.” (Read more from “China Detains Activist Pastor and over 100 Christians” HERE)

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100 Church Attendees in Custody, Attacks Ongoing

By China Aid. Around 100 leaders and seminary students from Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan have been arrested today.

Among the arrested are Pastor Wang Yi and his wife, Jiang Rong, who were seen being taken away after those who attend their church could not find them. Another two, Guo Hai and his wife, were forced to leave their two children at home unattended when police took them into custody.

Others had their homes raided. One church elder, Qin Defu, was forced to the ground as police inspected his residence.

The situation began at 6:00 p.m. China Standard Time (hereafter referred to as CST) when police seized a Christian at the entrance of the church and a multitude of officers searched his place.

Additionally, authorities shut off power to the home of church members Song Enguang and his wife. The police stationed downstairs also took three Christians, who attempted to visit them during the ordeal. (Read more from “100 Church Attendees in Custody, Attacks Ongoing” HERE)

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