{"id":48978,"date":"2024-02-06T14:00:56","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T05:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=48978"},"modified":"2024-02-06T10:55:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T01:55:24","slug":"vomk-report-289","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2024\/02\/06\/vomk-report-289\/","title":{"rendered":"CHINA: \u201cTHE GOVERNMENT HAD GUNS BUT THE CHURCH HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48970″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”A church in Guangzhou\u2019s calm response to an intimidating mealtime raid by armed police and government agents last month is drawing praise from persecution advocates. They say the incident reveals that churches in China are standing strong despite growing hostility toward Christianity by Communist Party authorities. ” 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]Voice of the Martyrs Korea <\/span>and its US partner China Aid are <\/span>reporting that on January 7, members of <\/span>Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> Dashi branch were <\/span>seated around several tables <\/span>praying <\/span>over their <\/span>meal<\/span> in the dining room of a farm<\/span> in <\/span>the <\/span>Shunde<\/span> district of <\/span>Guangzhou\u2019s <\/span>Foshan City.<\/span> T<\/span>hey were interrupted by dozens of police officers and government officials armed with real guns. <\/span>Those officers, <\/span>claim<\/span>ing<\/span> to be investigating illegal religious activities, demanded <\/span>that each attendee show their identification<\/span>. Witnesses say that officers <\/span>then <\/span>proceeded<\/span> to <\/span>interrogate and search the <\/span>event <\/span>organizer<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]But according to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley, <\/span>c<\/span>hurch members remained calm and insisted that the officers respect their legal rights.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe authorities continued to act in an intimidating manner, but the church members did not become frightened,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cThe government had guns, but the church had the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>witnesses report that <\/span>when the police entered and made their demands, a<\/span> participant in the gathering <\/span>gestured for everyone to be quiet and said,<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Only actions defined as illegal by the law are truly illegal. We have not violated any laws. Please be seated, and we need to video record everything.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48972″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that witnesses report that a<\/span> young Christian<\/span> then <\/span>attempted<\/span> to take photos but was <\/span>stopped by plainclothes police officers<\/span> who <\/span>attempt<\/span>ed<\/span> to seize his phone.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>According to witnesses, a<\/span>nother <\/span>church member then announced, \u2018<\/span>We have the right to record videos; we have the right to oversee the exercise of power<\/span>\u2019,<\/span> and then that person was <\/span>immediately<\/span> surrounded by f<\/span>ive plainclothes police officers<\/span> who moved to <\/span>take him away<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201cT<\/span>he man <\/span>then <\/span>asked why they wanted to take him away, questioning what crime he had committed. <\/span>Witnesses say t<\/span>he police responded, <\/span>\u2018<\/span>We need to inspect you now.<\/span>\u2019 But t<\/span>he man <\/span>refused to be intimated, saying, \u2018<\/span>Isn\u2019t this behavior akin to that of bandits? We can take photos, and you can too, showing that you are enforcing the law fairly.<\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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

Representative Foley says that t<\/span>he officers <\/span>also raised concerns about <\/span>children <\/span>being <\/span>present<\/span> at a religious event. \u201cOne <\/span>church member responded that the children were his, asking, <\/span>\u2018<\/span>What\u2019s the problem with that?<\/span>\u2019 <\/span>The officers accused the <\/span>man <\/span>of organizing an illegal religious activity and asked if he was a <\/span>p<\/span>astor or <\/span>e<\/span>lder. The Christian clarified that he was neither<\/span> but was <\/span>just there to pray<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, a <\/span>man <\/span>who had been <\/span>leading prayer <\/span>from a <\/span>podium <\/span>in the room when the police entered <\/span>was taken out for separate questioning. <\/span>\u201cWitnesses say that h<\/span>is wife wanted to <\/span>accompany<\/span> him but was stopped by the police. They requested her to go back inside and even mentioned taking her to the police car<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>The wife questioned, <\/span>\u2018<\/span>What authority do you have to restrict my personal freedom? Have I committed any crime? <\/span>That\u2019s<\/span> my husband; you took him away. Can\u2019t I go out to have a look?<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says another <\/span>man <\/span>from the church reminded police of <\/span>Article 36 of the <\/span>Chinese <\/span>Constitution, <\/span>which guarantees <\/span>freedom of religious belief<\/span> for citizens<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Witnesses report that the man said, \u2018<\/span>Why did you take him away? <\/span>H<\/span>e was cooperating with your inquiries and had not broken any law, <\/span>so <\/span>you cannot take him out. We are familiar with the law; this <\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span> the first time <\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span> encountered<\/span> such so-called religious law enforcement. We <\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span> break any law. We came here to have a meal, and as Christians, we pray. Whether we violated religious laws or not should be <\/span>determined<\/span> by the religious affairs bureau. Only when it is <\/span>determined<\/span> as illegal can the police enforce it. To protect the law, <\/span>us<\/span>, the police, and the religious affairs bureau<\/span>, we<\/span> will cooperate. Our brother has been taken away, and we need to see him, ensuring everyone\u2019s safety; everyone is equal before the law.<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48977″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Police raided Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church, searching the location where they were having a meal.\u00a0” 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 the raid is the latest event in an ongoing <\/span>government <\/span>crackdown against <\/span>Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church<\/span>,<\/span> a house church that refuses to join <\/span>the government\u2019s <\/span>Three-Self <\/span>C<\/span>hurch<\/span> organization<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Since the implementation of the <\/span>government\u2019s <\/span>new Regulations on Religious Affairs in 2018, <\/span>Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church\u2019s <\/span>Sunday services have been raided by the police multiple times, and Pastor Huang <\/span>Xiaoning<\/span> has been repeatedly <\/span>\u2018<\/span>invited for tea<\/span>\u2019 <\/span>and detained<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>She says that t<\/span>he church has six branches, all of which were simultaneously raided by local government authorities in May 2023<\/span>, with e<\/span>lders, <\/span>p<\/span>reachers, and <\/span>c<\/span>o-workers taken away by the police.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>In June 2023, a special task force targeting <\/span>Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church <\/span>was established <\/span>by local authorities,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>They tried to <\/span>persuade <\/span>Pastor Huang <\/span>Xiaoning<\/span> to join the Three-Self Church<\/span>, but his <\/span>stance remained firm<\/span>. He says, \u2018K<\/span>now what <\/span>you <\/span>should believe; act on what should be done; live life as usual until something extreme happens.<\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]On August 24, 2023, Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church was <\/span>officially <\/span>banned<\/span> by authorities and the church was<\/span> deemed<\/span> an illegal social organization. <\/span>Representative Foley says that t<\/span>he<\/span> group that <\/span>was\u00a0<\/span> raided<\/span> last month <\/span>is one of the gathering venues affiliated with the church.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u201cT<\/span>he persecution of Christianity in Foshan region has intensified over the past two years<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley.<\/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<\/a><\/span> 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=”48970″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”A church in Guangzhou\u2019s calm response to an intimidating mealtime raid by armed police and government agents last month is drawing praise from persecution advocates. They say …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":48971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","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\/48978","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=48978"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48981,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48978\/revisions\/48981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}