Yesterday morning (November 9), Elder Li Yingqiang and his coworkers visited the brothers and sisters at the Dazhou Haotudi Preaching House in Sichuan, holding a baptism and communion service. Around 11:30 a.m., more than ten plainclothes officers, officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau, and Civil Affairs Bureau entered the rented meeting room, attempting to disrupt the church worship. We asked them to respect the order of worship, and they slightly restrained themselves. After the worship ended, the brothers and sisters were all detained at the scene. Around 12:30 p.m., thirteen brothers and sisters were taken by police cars to the Chaoyang Police Station in Dazhou.
They were then taken to the waiting room of the case handling center, and not until around 3 p.m. did officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau, Civil Affairs Bureau, National Security, and police come to take their statements. Around 9 p.m., some brothers and sisters were released home; after midnight, Preacher Dai Zhichao, Preacher An Yankui, and Brother Wang Yingjie were released, leaving only Elder Li Yingqiang and Brother Hou Duoshu, a coworker at the Haotudi Preaching House, detained at the case handling center.
Merciful Heavenly Father, may Your glory fill this good land of Dazhou, and Your gospel shake this city, yielding a hundredfold harvest here. Please look after and protect Elder Li Yingqiang and Brother Hou Duoshu, that they may be released soon, and we are thankful for the love among brothers that You grant in times of trouble!
Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church Issued at 1:00 a.m. on November 10, 2023
Yesterday morning (November 9), Elder Li Yingqiang and his coworkers visited the brothers and sisters at the Dazhou Haotudi Preaching House in Sichuan, and during the worship meeting, they encountered joint law enforcement by multiple departments, resulting in a total of thirteen brothers and sisters being taken to the police station. Late into the night, Preacher Dai Zhichao, Preacher An Yankui, and eleven other brothers and sisters were all released.
Elder Li Yingqiang and Brother Hou Duoshu, a coworker at the Haotudi Preaching House, spent the night detained at the case handling center. Around noon, Brother Hou Duoshu was released home.
Elder Li Yingqiang was given ten days of administrative detention and fined 500 yuan, and he will be sent to the Dazhou Detention Center. Brother Hou Duoshu was given five days of administrative detention, but the police did not enforce it considering his physical condition.
We thank the churches for their prayers for Early Rain Church. May the Lord continue to lead this church through the storm, becoming more steadfast and powerful on the path of the cross. Please continue to pray for Elder Li Yingqiang’s family and Early Rain Church, may the Lord support the brothers and sisters in Dazhou, and may peace be with those the Lord loves!
Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church Issued at 13:25 on November 10, 2023
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