CHINA | JUL. 10, 2023 — Mayflower Church Members Granted Asylum
CHINA — Mayflower Church Members Granted Asylum
Prohibitions against raising their children in the Christian faith was a motivating factor for the Mayflower Church in the decision to leave China.
After more than three years of seeking refugee status, the 63 members of Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, commonly referred to as the Mayflower Church, were granted asylum and arrived in the U.S. on April 7.
Pastor Pan Yongguang led his congregation to South Korea in late 2019 to escape the harsh persecution they experienced at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). After exhausting their legal options in South Korea, they arrived in Thailand in August 2022, living under the imminent threat of international kidnapping and repatriation. The group was arrested by Thai authorities on March 30, prompting urgency for safe refuge since they were at risk of being handed over to Chinese authorities. VOM Korea gave discipleship training to this congregation while they were in South Korea.
Pray for this congregation’s continuing “faithful witness” and for other Chinese house churches that continue to face harassment, fines and imprisonment.