China: Campaign vs. Christians spreads to Guangdong
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Authorities have been harassing unofficial house churches in the Chinese province of Guangdong that haven’t submitted to the Communist Party’s Three-Self Association program.
According to Radio Free Asia, the Zhongfu Wanmin Church in Guangdong’s city of Dongguan has been forced to relocate after it received a letter from the local religious affairs bureau demanding that it “cease all illegal religious activities”.
“A lot of churches are getting these letters saying they are carrying out illegal religious activities now, and requiring them to stop,” said Pastor Li Peng. “Some have been forced to stop gathering for worship, while others have been forced to move…”
Li said his church will now meeting in a new building bought with loans taken out by the congregation.
The crackdown in Guangdong comes after the Communist authorities in Zhejiang province launched a regional campaign targeting “illegal” church crosses for demolition.
“A lot of churches in Guangzhou are being persecuted, including the Guangfu church,” said Zhang Mingxuan, president of the Chinese House Church Alliance. “Churches in Shenzhen have also been targeted, but not to the same degree.”