House Church in Bozhou, Anhui, China, Raided, Members Detained

By Dan Wooding
 

ANHUI, CHINA (ANS) -- ChinaAid is reporting that at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 2010, Bozhou Municipal Public Security Bureau in Anhui and Bozhou Bureau of Religion raided a house church on Qingming Street.

"More than 10 believers were taken away by the officials; five of them were detained and were not released until that afternoon. Without going through any paperwork, the government officials confiscated items belonging to the church," said a ChinaAid spokesperson.

"In this process of persecution and growth, the Chinese church is encouraged to play well the role of Samaritans, abandon excuses of cowardice and their fears, and bravely face dark and violent forces of the government by adhering to the principles of Christian ethics and morality.

They should unite and help each other, firmly refuse to make compromises and produce greater light and salt."

ChinaAid says that it expresses "deep regret and puzzlement" at the "ultra-leftist policies" that the Chinese government and its local government are pursuing recently.

"ChinaAid firmly believes the church will grow increasingly mature in the storm of persecutions and it will eventually change the entire cultural and social fabrics of China and glorify the hallowed name of Jesus Christ," added the spokesperson.