- Jul 27, 2009
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Pastor Sun Cong was one of a number of members of Beijing’s Zion Church taken away by security officers in a dramatic, authoritarian clamp down.
The incident left the wife and young mother distraught—and caused the pastor’s elderly mother to suffer a heart failure.
Wanyu said: ‘As a wife, I witnessed my 72-year-old mother-in-law faint and relapse into heart failure when she saw her son violently taken away. She was rushed to hospital, while I stood helplessly watching my husband being taken away.
‘My little one, still so young, kept crying and asking, “Where’s Daddy?” I held him tightly, with tears streaming down my face, and told him gently, “Daddy has gone to work for God.” Since then, he has been clinging to me constantly.’
The dramatic and traumatic arrest of Pastor Sun was part of a coordinated crackdown by the Chinese authorities that had begun the previous day, when another pastor was apprehended by police at Shenzhen airport.
The police then conducted raids to arrest a number of Zion Church members. Pastor Sun was one of those apprehended, by the Yinhai Branch of the Beihai City Public Security Bureau. ‘He did not resist, yet his hands were forcefully twisted behind his back and he was shoved to the ground. This is not only oppression against a defenceless man, but also an assault on his faith,’ his wife added.
The homes of those arrested were searched, and electronic devices were confiscated. It is not yet clear what those who have been detained in the coordinated raid will be charged with. Wanyu’s request to be able to visit her husband has been denied.
The Zion Church has long been a target for the authorities in China. It was shut down in 2018, but various branches have continued to meet. Last month’s renewed crackdown hit the headlines and prompted fears of increased pressure on China’s underground churches.
Reflecting on the current uncertain and intimidating situation, Wanyu said, ‘Though the pressure is immense, and I feel fear and weakness, I believe in the strength that comes from the One in whom we trust. Even in tears, I will praise Him. My husband, my family—we are surrounded by God’s boundless grace. He is good, merciful and faithful to those who stand firm in their faith.’
In many places in our world today Christians face ongoing threat and oppression for their faith in Jesus Christ and for their gospel witness.
The incident left the wife and young mother distraught—and caused the pastor’s elderly mother to suffer a heart failure.
Wanyu said: ‘As a wife, I witnessed my 72-year-old mother-in-law faint and relapse into heart failure when she saw her son violently taken away. She was rushed to hospital, while I stood helplessly watching my husband being taken away.
‘My little one, still so young, kept crying and asking, “Where’s Daddy?” I held him tightly, with tears streaming down my face, and told him gently, “Daddy has gone to work for God.” Since then, he has been clinging to me constantly.’
The dramatic and traumatic arrest of Pastor Sun was part of a coordinated crackdown by the Chinese authorities that had begun the previous day, when another pastor was apprehended by police at Shenzhen airport.
The police then conducted raids to arrest a number of Zion Church members. Pastor Sun was one of those apprehended, by the Yinhai Branch of the Beihai City Public Security Bureau. ‘He did not resist, yet his hands were forcefully twisted behind his back and he was shoved to the ground. This is not only oppression against a defenceless man, but also an assault on his faith,’ his wife added.
The homes of those arrested were searched, and electronic devices were confiscated. It is not yet clear what those who have been detained in the coordinated raid will be charged with. Wanyu’s request to be able to visit her husband has been denied.
The Zion Church has long been a target for the authorities in China. It was shut down in 2018, but various branches have continued to meet. Last month’s renewed crackdown hit the headlines and prompted fears of increased pressure on China’s underground churches.
Reflecting on the current uncertain and intimidating situation, Wanyu said, ‘Though the pressure is immense, and I feel fear and weakness, I believe in the strength that comes from the One in whom we trust. Even in tears, I will praise Him. My husband, my family—we are surrounded by God’s boundless grace. He is good, merciful and faithful to those who stand firm in their faith.’
In many places in our world today Christians face ongoing threat and oppression for their faith in Jesus Christ and for their gospel witness.
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