- Dec 11, 2018
- 96
- 85
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
Hey everyone,
I was a little surprised this had not been shared already, but thought I would go ahead and make a thread about it. For anyone who has been following the state of Christianity in China over the last couple of years, the government has grown less apathetic and increasingly hostile toward the Christian church there once again. This past week, roughly 100 members of Early Rain Church in Chengdu were arrested, and while many have been released, the majority of the elders of the church, including its head pastor, Wang Yi, are still in custody. He has not been heard from since Monday. From what I understand, the police showed up at the homes of many of the members and told them to sign a document stating that Early Rain Church is a cult and renouncing their affiliation with it. Those who refused to sign were then arrested. From my understanding, there have been reports of physical abuse of some of the detainees, and some are being sent to "re-education camps." There is a seminary and a Christian elementary school associated with the church as well, and some of the detainees are seminary students. I also read a report that a child who showed up to class at the Christian school was taken into custody as well.
This story has gained some international attention. The New York Times published this article yesterday:
Pastor Charged with 'Inciting Subversion' as China Cracks Down on Churches
It has also gained some popularity because Pastor Wang Yi wrote a letter than he intended to be released if he was ever detained, and it has made its rounds on social media now, having been shared by well-known pastors like John Piper and Tim Keller. You can read his letter here:
My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience
This particular story is a little closer to home for my church because my pastor has traveled to Chengdu a few times to teach at the seminary there. He has personally met and interacted with some of those who have been detained.
If you could, please pray that all who are detained would be released unharmed, and that the Gospel would spread like wildfire throughout China even as its government attempts to snuff it out. Thank you!
I was a little surprised this had not been shared already, but thought I would go ahead and make a thread about it. For anyone who has been following the state of Christianity in China over the last couple of years, the government has grown less apathetic and increasingly hostile toward the Christian church there once again. This past week, roughly 100 members of Early Rain Church in Chengdu were arrested, and while many have been released, the majority of the elders of the church, including its head pastor, Wang Yi, are still in custody. He has not been heard from since Monday. From what I understand, the police showed up at the homes of many of the members and told them to sign a document stating that Early Rain Church is a cult and renouncing their affiliation with it. Those who refused to sign were then arrested. From my understanding, there have been reports of physical abuse of some of the detainees, and some are being sent to "re-education camps." There is a seminary and a Christian elementary school associated with the church as well, and some of the detainees are seminary students. I also read a report that a child who showed up to class at the Christian school was taken into custody as well.
This story has gained some international attention. The New York Times published this article yesterday:
Pastor Charged with 'Inciting Subversion' as China Cracks Down on Churches
It has also gained some popularity because Pastor Wang Yi wrote a letter than he intended to be released if he was ever detained, and it has made its rounds on social media now, having been shared by well-known pastors like John Piper and Tim Keller. You can read his letter here:
My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience
This particular story is a little closer to home for my church because my pastor has traveled to Chengdu a few times to teach at the seminary there. He has personally met and interacted with some of those who have been detained.
If you could, please pray that all who are detained would be released unharmed, and that the Gospel would spread like wildfire throughout China even as its government attempts to snuff it out. Thank you!
Last edited:
