The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc. PO Box 443 Bartlesville, OK 74005 (918) 337-8015 Fax: (918) 338-8832 http://www.persecution.com

Three Chinese Christians released, but three still being held

The Voice of the Martyrs has learned that three Christians arrested at an early-morning house church service on July 13 were released by Chinese authorities last week. Three church leaders, though, including an 80-year old man, are still being held.

Xu Wei-Min and two other men were allowed to leave the hotel where they had been subject to repeated questioning and brainwashing. Authorities had been pressuring the men to register their house churches with the government. They were allowed to leave after telling authorities that they must consult with their congregations before making such a decision. Officers told the men they would be rearrested if their congregations did not register with the government’s Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB).

Three men-Shen Shao-Cheng, Gao Chong-Dao and Xiang Fa -are still being held, but have been moved to another hotel after leaks about their arrest reached the international community. Shen is more than 80 years old, and was one of the founders of the church in that area more than 25 years ago.

Voice of the Martyrs’ contacts in China report that the three are now being held at the Kai Yuan Cheng Shi Hotel. The Voice of the Martyrs encourages Christians in the US to send a fax of encouragement to the three Christians being held. Even if the men are not allowed to receive the faxes, they will serve to let the government there know that people outside China are aware of the case details. The hotel’s fax can be reached from the US by dialing 011-86-571-82625217.

“This is a time of intense pressure for the unregistered house churches in China,” said VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton. “The government is seeking to control the church through fear and intimidation, but the believers there continue to stand firm in their commitment to Christ.”

Christians in the US are encouraged to respond in three ways: 1. Pray for the believers in China, especially those being held by police. 2. Send a fax of encouragement to the believers being held in the Kai Yuan Cheng Shi Hotel at 011-86-571-82625217. 3. Send a polite letter of protest to the Chinese embassy in Washington DC: Ambassador Yang Jiechi Embassy of the People’s Republic of China 2300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008 Tel:(202) 328-2500 Fax:(202) 588-0032 Director of Religious Affairs: (202) 328-2512

Gary Lane or Todd Nettleton (267) 205-5210 (918) 337-8015