Chinese Christians rejoiced at the release of five house church leaders from labor camp, only to hear shortly thereafter on Aug. 30 that an opponent of forced abortion will be sent to a prison built specifically for him.
The five released leaders included four women – Gao Fuqin, Zhao Guoai, Yang Caizhen and Yang Hongzhen – and one man, Li Shuangpin, who were all arrested for their involvement with the Fushan House Church in Linfen, reports China-Aid, a group that monitors religious freedom. Five of the church’s leaders remain in prison.
Caizhen was released in February on medical parole because of a nearly fatal liver ailment, and the other four were released last month, according to ChinaAid.
The only legal churches in China are registered with the government-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement. However, with registration come restrictions on baptism, Sunday school and evangelism, said Bob Fu, ChinaAid’s founder and president.
Located approximately 470 miles southeast from Beijing, the Linfen church building was destroyed in September 2009 in a one-day attack led by 400 police officers, government officials and hired men, according to ChinaAid. Dozens of Christians were beaten, and more than 30 sustained critical injuries. This attack also destroyed the church’s source of income, the Good News Cloth Shoes Factory, and was one of the largest cases of religious persecution in the last few years.
Within a month of the attack, 10 of the church’s leaders were arrested and the remaining five – Xiao Guang, Yang Xuan, Cui Jiaxing, Yang Rongli and Zhang Huamei – are still imprisoned.
“The Linfen church leaders and their families suffered cruel persecution for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church,” Fu said in a statement. “They paid the price with great honor for the sake of the gospel.
“We express our great respect for them, and continue to lift up prayers for them and their families. These loyal and devoted brothers and sisters are not only the hope of the church, but also are the hope of Chinese society.” – BP