Listener Responses from China

On Wednesday, 2:30pm, while a group of Christians were singing in a small town in Hubei province, some officials broke in with a video camera. Under the flashing eye of the video camera, names were jotted down and six brothers were dragged away to local public security office. Before the other five were released, Peter (fictitious name) was beaten by electric stick at their presence. At about 8pm, he was escorted away to head office. Not knowing when Peter would be released, all his little flocks scattered in more than a dozen villages.

This is definitely just one of the many common stories that have taken place all over the land as a prelude to test run a new iron decree to be promulgated soon. As you may know, some house churches in Shanghai, Chongqing, Zinan, Zhuhai and Shenzhen were also banned.

(#11044 Guangdong, response to "Dawn China)

I must apologize for the delay to inform you the news of Peter's release by the end of August. It was the fact that Peter came out at a blackmailed price paid by one of his relatives without his prior knowledge and against his will prevented us from having the courage to tell you the news timely. For a long time we were sad and downcast over this failure, although Peter had suffered a lot inside the cell and had brought nearly all of his roommates to Him. Right now their flocks in Hubei are under tight watches. Nevertheless, we want to thank you very much for all your loving concerns.

(#15960 Guangdong; response to programs on C-1OO)

There is only a handful of people in the countryside who know the true God. There are so called Christians who actually worship Satan, thus, ruining the name of the Lord. Public Security officers interfered churches' activities without distinguishing true Christians from false ones. Christians were fined or even tortured. Some believers were tumbled in face of these trials.

(#05799 Hubei; response to "DAWN China")

This is law-enforcement year. The government rigorously cracks down on criminals and exerts control on house church meetings. We were interrupted once by the Public Security Bureau claiming that house meeting is prohibited. Worship has to be taken place in Three-self churches, or we should register with the authority. Otherwise, we will be fined, imprisoned and treated as criminals. The churches in a neighboring county are being persecuted too. Many house churches are forced to close down. We just stay home and listen to gospel broadcast.

(#10284 Shandong; response to The New Generation")

The church in my area is located in a remote village. The size of the congregation is about twenty people. We are quite deprived spiritually because of lack of correct understanding of Scriptures due to low education standard. Another problem is that the authority is persecuting us by either imprisoning or imposing fine on us. How should we stand firm in faith?

(#12708 Heilongjiang; response to "Compass of Life")

Our church was set up by a preacher from Chongqing some years ago. We once faced persecution in the first year after set up. In the first half of this year, the officials persecuted us again. Consequently the congregation split into small groups and scattered. This situation was like that of the early church in Jerusalem. Now we have many "mini-churches" and the Gospel is prospering. Thank God that He always has good plans and His thoughts are higher than ours. Now, some core co-workers meet twice every month to plan the development of these mini-churches. The urgent question is to recruit more faithful workers and equip them with God's words and pastoring skill to nurture these churches. At present, a few co-workers and I have to serve quite many churches each week. We lack Bibles and spiritual literature.

(#12198 Sichuan; response to "Radio Church and "DAWN China")

A total of about ten churches in this area were forced to stop meeting since last July because of persecution from the provincial authority. They ordered us to merge but we knew that they actually wanted money, so we refused. Knowing that we wouldn't bribe them, the authority began to persecute us. Some of us were arrested and fined. I was arrested once but not threatened. However, many of other believers became scared and didn't dare to attend church service. Our faith is growing weak now. Please pray for us.

(#12568 Anhui; response to "The New Generation")

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