{"id":36739,"date":"2021-05-25T12:47:12","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T03:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=36739"},"modified":"2021-05-25T14:06:30","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T05:06:30","slug":"vomk-report-156","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2021\/05\/25\/vomk-report-156\/","title":{"rendered":"CHINA: MORE EARLY RAIN CHURCH MEMBERS DETAINED, BEATEN"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”36726″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”A minister from the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China was held in police custody on the weekend of May 8-9, and four church members were questioned with two being beaten while attempting to bring him food. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>actions against Early Rain Church\u00a0<\/span><\/span>were the latest\u00a0<\/span><\/span>since\u00a0<\/span><\/span>an April 21 police raid on a tutoring program operated by the church, where 19 adults and children were taken into custody<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and later released<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The events continue a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>two\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and a half\u00a0<\/span><\/span>year<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>long\u00a0<\/span><\/span>crackdown\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by authorities\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the church<\/span><\/span>, whose pastor, Wang Yi,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was arrested along with more than 100 church\u00a0<\/span><\/span>members on December 9, 2018.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe detention of Minister\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Wu\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Wuqing<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and the physical attacks on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Brother Dai\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zhichao<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Sister\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Shu\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Qiong<\/span><\/span>\u00a0at the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Longquanyi<\/span><\/span>\u00a0District Damian Police Station<\/span><\/span>\u00a0show the continuing spiritual strength of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Early Rain Church, in the face of unrelenting\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Communist\u00a0<\/span><\/span>persecution,\u201d says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Hyun Sook Foley. \u201cBrother Dai\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zhichao<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span><\/span>angrily punched and kicked by a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>plainclothe<\/span><\/span>s officer,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>but he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>described the whole experience as \u2018<\/span><\/span>a great spiritual exercise<\/span><\/span>\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The<\/span><\/span>\u00a0church members<\/span><\/span>\u00a0sang hymns\u00a0<\/span><\/span>at the police station\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and shared the gospel with the officers\u00a0<\/span><\/span>there,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>at great personal cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Brother Dai\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zhichao<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>said, \u2018<\/span><\/span>We could only continue to preach the gospel if we were willing to submit to the authorities beating us. Perhaps our Christian singing offended them, or the spreading of the video which included them frightened them.<\/span><\/span>\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Sister\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Shu\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Qiong<\/span><\/span>\u00a0was\u00a0<\/span><\/span>slapped in the face<\/span><\/span>\u00a0by officers who\u00a0<\/span><\/span>broke her glasses\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and left a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>multitude of scratches on her neck and arms.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0The<\/span><\/span>se church members\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had brought Minister Wu\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Wuqing<\/span><\/span>\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0wife to the police station<\/span><\/span>\u00a0simply so she could bring her husband dinner. But they ended up being used by God to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>bring\u00a0<\/span><\/span>spiritual\u00a0<\/span><\/span>food instead<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”36558″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Chengdu, China, location of Early Rain Covenant Church ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley says that the church members were<\/span><\/span>\u00a0able to encourage detained Minister Wu\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Wuqing<\/span><\/span>\u00a0at the police station<\/span><\/span>\u00a0even though they were not permitted to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0visit him. \u201cBrother Dai\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zhichao<\/span><\/span>\u00a0reports that as he was being moved from one room to another in the police\u00a0<\/span><\/span>station<\/span><\/span>\u00a0he caught sight of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Minister Wu\u00a0<\/span><\/span>W<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>qing<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in another room, with two police officers guarding him. Brother Dai\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zhichao<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>called out to him, \u2018<\/span><\/span>Wuqing<\/span><\/span>, Jesus loves you,<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and Min<\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>ster<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Wu\u00a0<\/span><\/span>called back<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/span>God loves you.<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

According to Representative Foley, Minister Wu had been called to the police station on Friday<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0May 7 after participating in the funeral for a church member.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>During the preceding\u00a0<\/span><\/span>week<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the air had been let out of the tires of his car three times by unknown assailants, damaging the wheels. \u201cHe was released on Friday but summoned again to the police station\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Saturday<\/span><\/span>\u00a0afternoon<\/span><\/span>, apparently on charges related to disturbing the peace<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>The church members\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and their children\u00a0<\/span><\/span>arrived Saturday evening, expecting that Minister Wu would be detained\u00a0<\/span><\/span>until after\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the time of Sunday\u00a0<\/span><\/span>worship\u00a0<\/span><\/span>services, as in previous\u00a0<\/span><\/span>encounters\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with the police.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0The church members were met in front of the police station by a group of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>political security and stabilization officers<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>he<\/span><\/span>\u00a0church members<\/span><\/span>\u00a0recorded video on their cell phones<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for their own legal protection. The<\/span><\/span>y were eventually permitted to enter<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the station,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>where the<\/span><\/span>ir phones were confiscated, they were searched without a warrant, and officers\u00a0<\/span><\/span>tried to force the four adult members to make a police\u00a0<\/span><\/span>statement,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>which they\u00a0<\/span><\/span>refused to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>members reported that the<\/span><\/span>ir<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>children<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>gradually\u00a0<\/span><\/span>fell asleep in their arms despite the tense atmosphere.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>One child even\u00a0<\/span><\/span>recited\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Proverb<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a011:1 \u2013 3 aloud<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to the police<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u2018<\/span><\/span>The Lord detests dishonest scales<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>but accurate weights find favor with him.<\/span><\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The church members were transported by police back to their home districts\u00a0<\/span><\/span>around 2AM<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Sunday morning<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0They reported that Minister Wu was back at home<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Sunday afternoon.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”36731″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_border”][vc_custom_heading text=”Brother Dai Zhichao with his family ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley says that Brother Dai\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zhichao<\/span><\/span>\u00a0gave\u00a0<\/span><\/span>one\u00a0<\/span><\/span>praise\u00a0<\/span><\/span>request\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>one<\/span><\/span>\u00a0prayer request. \u201cHe\u00a0<\/span><\/span>said, \u2018<\/span><\/span>Thank the Lord that the One with us commands more than the ones with the CCP.<\/span><\/span>\u2019 And he requested, \u2018<\/span><\/span>Pray for the Lord to have mercy on those persecuting us.<\/span><\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley notes that the recent increase in authorities\u2019 activity against Early Rain Church is paralleled by crackdowns on other churches across China.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>During the month of May alone,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>two ministers at Zion Church in Beijing were detained for ten days.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Guiyang\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Renai<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Reformed Church\u2019s Elder Zhang\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Chunlei<\/span><\/span>\u00a0has been detained.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Bible apps have been removed from app stores in China,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cYet we can join Brother Dai<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zhichao<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in giving thanks that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the One with us commands more than the ones with the CCP.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0And we can p<\/span><\/span>ray for the Lord to have mercy on those persecuting\u00a0<\/span><\/span>our brothers and sisters in China<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Individuals interested in<\/span>\u00a0additional<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Early Rain Covenant Church upda<\/span>tes can visit\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/project\/china\/early-rain-covenant-church\/<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Individuals interested in donating to Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s work in partnership with the house church Christians of China can visit\u00a0<\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/<\/span>en\/<\/span>donation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>or give via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

KB Bank: 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Account Holder: (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please note \u201cChina\u201d on the transfer<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”36735″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”File photo of a worship service at Early Rain Covenant Church before the December 9, 2018 arrest of Pastor Wang Yi.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”36726″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”A minister from the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China was held in police custody on the weekend of May 8-9, and four church members were …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":36724,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36739\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}