Persecution of Christians in China: there is a line in this report that is simply chilling. The church that was demolished “was part of the country’s officially-recognized church network.” This means that the government is not just moving against churches and Christian organizations that do not have official government recognition, but is waging all-out war against the Christian faithful. This is a matter of grave concern also for the tiny community of Orthodox Christians in China, as the Chinese government has not granted Orthodox Christianity any official status, and this article makes it clear that official status is no guarantee of protection anyway. The Orthodox churches in China could be closed at any time at the whim of local officials, and Orthodox Christians taken into custody. This is yet another instance of the persecution of Christians by governing officials that is unfortunately on the increase not only in China, but in all too many other nations around the world.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in China, see here.
“Megachurch demolished, pastors detained!,” China Aid, October 19, 2019:
(Funan, Anhui—Oct. 19, 2019) Authorities destroyed a church in China and detained its pastors over the weekend.
No legal papers ordering the church’s demolition were provided, but the officials tore it down on Friday. It could seat more than 3,000 people and was part of the country’s officially-recognized church network.
It was mid-worship service when the destruction took place.
Today, officials detained the church’s pastors, Geng Yimin and Sun Yongyao, on suspicion of “gathering a crowd to disturb social order.”
Video of the church demolition. Video: ChinaAid…
