China: Christian publishes prayer letter for church and imprisoned husband, “please pray for God’s justice”

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A Christian woman in China has published a letter asking believers to pray for her husband, who has been imprisoned for leading the Panshi house church in China’s Shizuishan, and for the church itself, China Aid reports. China ranks 17 on the US Open Doors Watch List of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

Viewing faith groups as a threat to its power, the Chinese communist government has instituted a nationwide program of “Sinicization.” This has involved the systematic suppression of Christianity in China, including the imprisonment of church leaders, confiscation of Bibles, and the outlawing of house churches. “The Chinese Communist Party is working actively and on numerous fronts to destroy Christianity and replace it in the hearts, minds, and souls of the people of China,” the Christian Persecution organization said in a website statement on March 1.

In her letter of February 19, Mrs. Hao Ying said that her church in Huinong District, Shizuishan had been raided during its Sunday service on December 5, 2021, China Aid reports. Both she and her husband, preacher Geng Zejun were taken into detention together with five other believers but were later released on bail. However, Geng Zejun was recalled and has been placed back in administrative detention. The other believers remaining on bail are Hao Ying, Luo Shiping, Ye Ningfang, Zhu Junying, and Wang Sufang.

The Huinong District Public Security Bureau issued an administrative punishment decision notice on December 5, 2021, asserting that the Christians had been involved in “illegal gathering multiple times in the name of Christianity.” As the preacher of the church, Geng Zejun was detained for conduct that the authorities said “severely disturbed social order.”

Asking for prayer, Mrs. Hao said: ”I don’t think our church services are illegal gatherings. Fellow Christians, please pray for us and for God’s justice.”

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