CHINESE CHRISTIANS CONTINUE TO SING EVEN WHEN OFFICIALS DISRUPT BIBLE STUDY
(Xiamen, Fujian--June 14, 2019) Officials disrupted a Xinzao Church Bible study in China's southeastern Fujian Province June 13. Christians at the Bible study responded by singing hymns.
After the officials interrupted the Bible study, they demanded that the Christians present their IDs and register their meeting with the government. The Christians refused to comply and, instead, sang worship songs. Some of Xinzao church’s ministers were detained.
“The Communist Party’s crackdown on churches is not causing Chinese Christians to cower in fear,”
explains Voice of the Martyrs Korea representative Foley Hyun Sook.
2019년 6월 중국 남동부 교회 박해
“Instead, they’re responding by being faithful witnesses to Christ.”
Representative Foley adds,
“Larger churches like Shouwang Church, Early Rain Church, Zion Church, and Rongguili Church have had their stories reported in international media, but small churches like this one are just as faithful. We need to make sure their voice is heard, because they need our prayer support just as much.”
Voice of the Martyrs Korea has released video footage of the Xinzao Church members singing during the police disruption. Foley encourages Korean Christians to share this video with their church, family, or small group. “Not only should we watch the video and be inspired. We should sing along with them and pray for them.” The song they are singing is titled, “Near to the Cross.” In the video, the congregation is singing the words, “My sins are washed away, only because the precious blood of Jesus.”
Xinzao Church members singing during the police disruption
현숙 폴리 대표는 신자오 교회만 최근에 급습을 당한 것이 아니라고 말한다. 베이징 시간으로 6월 26일 오전 10시, 중국 경찰이 광시성 베이하이시 샛별 가정 교회도 급습했다. 중요한 역할을 하는 신자들뿐 아니라 교회 지도자와 협력자 전원이 구금되었고, 휴대전화는 몰수당했다. 6월 27일 오전 2시 현재, 한 명도 풀려나지 않았다.
Voice of the Martyrs Korea is calling on Korean Christians to add their names to a declaration of religious freedom originally published in September 2018 with signatures from 439 Chinese pastors. The full declaration is available at www.chinadeclaration.org.
“439 Chinese pastors signed this declaration,” says Representative Foley.
“They and other church leaders, like the ones at Xinzao Church, are now experiencing rapidly increasing persecution at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. We are calling on Korean Christians to stand with Xinzao Church and all Chinese Christians by adding their signatures to the declaration.”
선언서 전문은 www.chinadeclaration.org에서 볼 수 있다.