{"id":48366,"date":"2023-11-21T14:00:05","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T05:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=48366"},"modified":"2023-11-21T13:45:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T04:45:55","slug":"vomk-report-279","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2023\/11\/21\/vomk-report-279\/","title":{"rendered":"CHINA: COUPLE WHO MET THROUGH PERSECUTION IS SEPARATED BY PERSECUTION, THEN REUNITED"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48351″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Hao Guiru\u2019s fianc\u00e9e is a Christian from Guangdong province. She was so attracted to Hao Guiru\u2019s devotion to his Christian faith that she moved 1,500 kilometers to Chengdu in Sichuan Province to date him. ” 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]But as Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley explains, Hao <\/span>Guiru\u2019s<\/span> Christian devotion goes far beyond Bible reading or prayer.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cHao <\/span>Guiru<\/span> is a member of Early Rain Covenant Church, a group legally banned by the Chinese government and the constant target of some of the <\/span>most severe <\/span>persecution in the world since its <\/span>pastor, Wang Yi, was arrested along with more than 100 church members on December 9, 2018<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48355″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So<\/span> it was not surprising for Hao <\/span>Guiru\u2019s<\/span> fianc\u00e9e to be waiting for him outside a police station on <\/span>a recent Sunday morning.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day before, on Saturday October 28th at 10 AM, more than thirty Early Rain Covenant Church believers held a graduation ceremony for the church\u2019s \u2018servant college\u2019 in a hotel\u2019s conference room,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cSuddenly, over twenty national security agents, police, staff of the <\/span>government R<\/span>eligious <\/span>A<\/span>ffairs <\/span>B<\/span>ureau, and community workers broke into the room. They interrupted the ceremony and claimed the gathering was illegal. Everyone attending <\/span>was required<\/span> to register their personal information.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, witnesses report that one national security agent scolded all the Christians aloud and called them traitors. \u201cHe said he wanted to catch all of them and parade them through the street,\u201d says Representative Foley.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48356″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Hao Guiru and his fianc\u00e9e embrace upon his release from the police station after being held overnight in connection to a graduation event at embattled Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|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]Representative Foley says that police <\/span>transported <\/span>nine <\/span>of the Early Rain <\/span>Covenant Church <\/span>leaders<\/span>\u2014E <\/span>lder<\/span> Li <\/span>Yingqiang<\/span>, preacher Ding <\/span>Shuqi<\/span>, deacon Jia <\/span>Xuewei<\/span>, and six other co-workers, including Hao <\/span>Guiru<\/span>\u2014<\/span>to <\/span>area <\/span>police station<\/span>s<\/span>. \u201cMany believers and family members were waiting outside the police station<\/span>s<\/span> for news,\u201d says Representativ<\/span>e<\/span> Foley. \u201cAt around 2 AM, police came out and told them that Ding <\/span>Shuqi<\/span>, Jia <\/span>Xuewei<\/span>, and Hao <\/span>Guiru<\/span> would not be released that night.<\/span> So<\/span> the church members <\/span>had no choice but to go <\/span>home.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In the morning<\/span>, <\/span>Hao <\/span>Guiru\u2019s<\/span> fianc\u00e9e returned <\/span>to the police station to wait for Hao<\/span>\u2019s release<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>At around 10 AM, <\/span>the three Early Rain <\/span>Covenant Church <\/span>leaders were <\/span>released<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Hao <\/span>Guiru<\/span> met his <\/span>fianc\u00e9e <\/span>outside of the police station, and they <\/span>hugged each other and burst into tears<\/span> as <\/span>onlookers<\/span> greeted them with applause<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Then, says Representative Foley, <\/span>the couple and the other released leaders did what they <\/span>always <\/span>do on Sunday mornings.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]They went to church.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>All nine <\/span>of the Early Rain <\/span>Covenant Church <\/span>believers who had been arrested shared <\/span>their difficult experience<\/span>s<\/span> in the police station <\/span>with the Early Rain Covenant Church congregation, <\/span>but <\/span>they <\/span>also <\/span>shared <\/span>how they witnessed God\u2019s grace<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span> \u201cDeacon<\/span> Jia <\/span>Xuewei<\/span> had been taken <\/span>into the <\/span>police station <\/span>bathroom<\/span> and violently assaulted<\/span> by an officer there<\/span>. <\/span>The officer kept <\/span>beating <\/span>Deacon <\/span>Jia up until other police eventually stopped him.<\/span>\u201d Representative Foley says that <\/span>Preacher Ding <\/span>Shuqi<\/span> was dragged and beaten up when police took him away<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48358″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Early Rain Covenant Church leaders being transported to a police station after authorities disrupted a graduation of the church\u2019s Servant College on October 28.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|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]Still, says Representative Foley, <\/span>Hao <\/span>Guiru<\/span> and his fianc\u00e9e, as well as the <\/span>other recently released detainees<\/span>, remain resolute in their faith and undeterred by the <\/span>October 28 crackdown<\/span>. Representative Foley shared a prayer which the church published <\/span>during the event<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord\u2019s love is in China, the Lord\u2019s love is in Chengdu, the Lord\u2019s love is in the fall rain, and the Lord\u2019s love is among us. During these five years of great persecution, although the synagogue was blocked and the pastor was imprisoned, brothers and sisters were fruitful in patience and gladly equipped themselves to serve the church. Pray that the Lord would watch over each of the brothers and sisters who were taken to the police station, and give them courageous hearts, which You have given them for their graduation, to see the Eternal Savior <\/span>in the midst of<\/span> persecution and fire. Pray also for mercy on our nation and government officials, who continue to persecute the Lord Christ and His Church, not realizing that this is the only way of life that can save them from death.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Early Rain Covenant Church is <\/span>among the most internationally well-known <\/span>house church<\/span>es<\/span> in China. <\/span>Initially led by <\/span>the now-<\/span>imprisoned <\/span>Pastor Wang Yi, the church <\/span>has continued to <\/span>uphold <\/span>his <\/span>vision of worshipping God in public. <\/span>The church <\/span>established<\/span> the \u201cPrisoners of Conscience Fellowship\u201d and set May 12 to June 4 <\/span>annually <\/span>as the \u201cPrayer for the Nation Month<\/span>\u201d<\/span>, which <\/span>Representative Foley says <\/span>increased the church\u2019s visibility to the government. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Police would station themselves at the entrance to their building to prevent believers from entering<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>In other instances, authorities stake<\/span>d<\/span> out the homes of important members to prohibit them from leaving their homes.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48360″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Christians pray outside a police station October 28 while waiting for the release of arrested leaders from the Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|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]In <\/span>August 2018, Pastor Wang Yi drafted \u201cA Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith\u201d<\/span>, the text of which can be read <\/span>in multiple languages <\/span>at <\/span><\/span>www.chinadeclaration.com<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>, a site <\/span>maintained<\/span> by Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPastor Wang Yi <\/span>wrote it in response to the Chinese government\u2019s implementation of <\/span>the so-called <\/span>Religious Affairs Regulations <\/span>which took effect <\/span>in February 2018<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201cHe called <\/span>on <\/span>other Chinese <\/span>pastors to come forward, publicly state their beliefs, <\/span>sign the statement, <\/span>and refuse to sign the new <\/span>religious <\/span>regulations.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]On December 9, 2018, <\/span>m<\/span>ore than one <\/span>hundred Early Rain Covenant Church <\/span>elders and co-workers were arrested. Pastor Wang Yi was arrested and charged with \u201cinciting subversion of state power\u201d and \u201cillegal business operations<\/span>\u201d.<\/span> The Chinese government sentenced him to nine years in prison<\/span> in December 2019, confiscating his personal assets and suspending his political rights for three years<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u00a0<\/span>Representative Foley says that since the crackdown on Early Rain Covenant Church began nearly five years ago, police have continued to harass church leaders and members. \u201cOfficers stand outside their homes, follow them, disperse their gatherings, and monitor them closely,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cLast year, authorities even disrupted a wedding for two of the church\u2019s members by forcing the wedding venue to cancel at the last minute.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48362″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Early Rain Covenant Church Preacher Ding Shuqi and Deacon Jia Xuewei walking out of the police station after being detained overnight on October 28, along with Hao Guiru.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|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]To this day, <\/span>says Representative Foley, <\/span>the persecution has not ceased against Early Rain, but neither has the <\/span>church\u2019s <\/span>public worship. <\/span>\u201cThe church m<\/span>embers continue to evangelize and host worker <\/span>training<\/span>s<\/span>, leading to events like the <\/span>servant college<\/span> graduation that was recently disrupted<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Many <\/span>other <\/span>Christians<\/span>, like <\/span>Hao <\/span>Guiru<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> now-fianc\u00e9e, <\/span>have even been attracted to the church<\/span>\u2019s faithful<\/span> witness<\/span> in the face of persecution<\/span> and <\/span>have <\/span>moved to Chengdu<\/span> to join them<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, Hao <\/span>Guiru\u2019s<\/span> fianc\u00e9e appears to have found exactly what she was looking for: a man <\/span>and a church <\/span>prepared to pay the price for <\/span>their <\/span>devotion to Jesus.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Individuals interested in learning about or supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s work in partnership with persecuted Christians in China can visit <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/china<\/span><\/span><\/a> or give via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

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

Please note \u201cChina\u201d on the transfer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48351″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Hao Guiru\u2019s fianc\u00e9e is a Christian from Guangdong province. She was so attracted to Hao Guiru\u2019s devotion to his Christian faith that she moved 1,500 kilometers to …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":48352,"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-48366","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":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48366","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=48366"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48374,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48366\/revisions\/48374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}