Source: www.ChinaAid.org
Date: November 1, 2021
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| Downtown Wuhu (Photo: Flickr) |
(Wuhu, Anhui Province— November 1, 2021) On October 30, an anonymous Christian posted a prayer request letter on social media. In their open letter, they listed the government’s persecution against Wuhu Jiamishan (translation: Mount Carmel) Christian church and its affiliated school, Xuan De Learning Center, in the past several months.
On the morning of May 27, national security agents and police officers raided Xuan De Learning Center and confiscated the school’s computers, books, and teachers’ cell phones. They also sealed up all the school’s equipment and possessions. Officials took the headmaster, Mrs. Wan Hongxia, and nine other teachers to the police station. The next day, authorities sent Mrs. Wan Hongxia, Mr. Han Yanlei, Mr. Xie Zhifeng, and Mr. Wang Minghai to the local detention center. Their official charge became “illegal business operations.” The other 6 teachers were released on bail. In early June, families of the accused hired lawyers. Mrs. Wan Hongxia and the three teachers are held in Wuhu No.1 Detention Center.
On May 28, the Wuhu Civil Affairs Bureau published the following notice on “banning an illegal social organization”:
Our investigation found out that “Jiamishan Christian Church” is not a registered social organization, but it conducted activities in the name of the organization without approval. This has violated article 32 of “Administration of Social Organizations Registration” and regulations of “Measures for Banning Illegal Non-Governmental Organizations”. Thus, we have decided to officially ban the organization.
In July, the Wuhu local government deemed Jiamishan Christian Church as an “illegal gathering”.
In the past few months, Jiamishan and its affiliated school have remained silent. Like some other house churches, they are afraid of the government's retaliation. They also hope their silence allows the arrested Christians receive a lighter sentence.
The anonymous Christian urged other Christians to pray for the four arrested Christians, their families, the released teachers, and the remnant church.
The prayer request letter ended with James 5:7-8：
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
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