Chinese house church leader arrested again
Chinese house church leader arrested again
14 March 2000 (Newsroom) — Chinese house church leader Li Dexian was detained by police on Tuesday morning and released the same evening without harm. The Protestant evangelist was arrested by Public Security Bureau officers at his weekly 10 a.m. Bible study in Huadu near Guangzhou for the 11th time since October, a source in Hong Kong told Newsroom.
The Hong Kong source, who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons, said that authorities are trying to discourage Li by continuing the arrests without any indication of how long they might go on, or what they might do next. “I think they are trying to break him down, but they don’t realize that he is looking far higher than earthly authorities,” the source said.
Li’s profile abroad has helped keep him from a long prison sentence, the source said. A photograph of the church leader was given to British Prime Minister Tony Blair who showed it to Chinese President Jiang Zemin on a state visit to the United Kingdom last October.
Some 600 people attend Li’s weekly meeting in the Guangdong province village. The current wave of arrests began on October 11 when about 200 police arrived at Li’s meeting place in Huadu and destroyed the building’s annex. His most recent arrest, before Tuesday, was on February 23.
Chinese authorities insist that Li’s ministry, like all religious work in China, must submit to the control of the state. Protestant churches are required to register under the authority of the official Three-self Patriotic Movement.
Copyright © 2000 Newsroom.
Used with permission.
Worthy News reports from a biblical worldview with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and editorial independence. Learn more about About Worthy News, our Editorial Standards, AI Use Policy, Ownership of Worthy News, News Tips and Corrections, and Worthy News Staff.
💡 Did you know? One of the best ways you can support Worthy News is by simply leaving a comment and sharing this article.
📢 Social media algorithms push content further when there’s more engagement — so every 👍 like, 💬 comment, and 🔄 share helps more people discover the truth. 🙌
Latest Worthy News
Books by George Whitten
The Biblical Fall Feasts Revealed https://biblicalfallfeasts.com
An in-depth look at the Biblical fall feasts and their prophetic significance for believers today.
The Eternal Kingdom Revealed https://eternalkingdomrevealed.com
The Eternal Kingdom Revealed traces the Kingdom of God as the central story of Scripture, from before creation to the restoration of all things.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.