On the morning of May 21, 2023, around 5:30 AM, while about 20 members of our church were holding a Sunday service, more than 50 people from Zhengzhou’s Jinshui District Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Civil Affairs Bureau, Beilin Road Police Station, auxiliary police, urban management officers, and Beilin Road Sub-district Office forcibly entered our meeting place. They first warned and controlled us not to take photos or videos, then announced the administrative dissolution of our church. Twenty-one brothers and sisters who attended the meeting were taken to the Beilin Road Police Station. Starting from 6 AM until 6 PM, officials from the Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs led a 12-hour interrogation, using illegal methods such as intimidation and leading questions. Meanwhile, city management personnel carried out violent demolition. They forcibly removed all the church’s musical instruments (including personal ones), sound equipment, computers (personal ones), projectors, removed the air conditioners, water dispensers, took away all chairs, and took down all curtains. They smashed the podium, sound console, and doors. They brought professional locksmiths to forcibly enter personal rooms unrelated to the meeting and took away personal cash, jewelry, skincare products, toiletries, whole boxes of tissues, and various other private items. They also pasted the dissolution decision of the Jinshui District Civil Affairs Bureau and the seal of the Jinshui District Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs on the door.
However, we believe in what the Lord Jesus said in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
Dear brothers and sisters, we do not find it strange to experience such trials as if something unusual has happened (1 Peter 4:12). But at this time, we especially need brothers and sisters to join us in united prayer, and also as the Lord commanded, to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Please also pray specifically for the following:
- May the Lord manifest His righteousness and mighty works in our legal processes such as administrative reconsideration;
- May the Lord grant wisdom and strength to our pastors, fellow workers, and all saints, enabling them to respond strongly in the Lord and witness His name;
- May the Lord be with the lawyers defending our rights, empowering them to stand firm and effectively defend the church of Christ according to the law;
- May the Lord grant faith and strength to the brothers and sisters of our church, protecting them from and overcoming related disturbances and intimidation;
- May the Lord have mercy on those in power and law enforcement, enlightening their hearts with God’s light, causing them to fear God, love the people, act righteously, govern and enforce the law according to the constitution and laws, and civilly, no longer enforcing the law illegally or violently against God’s church and Christians.
We believe that God operates His righteous and good will with wisdom and power, and as Christians, we love our country and respect our government and leaders with truth. May all we experience be a wake-up call and blessing for all churches. May the Lord revive our churches, pastors, and all saints to serve this generation and speak out for righteousness, justice, and the righteousness of Christ, thus becoming a beautiful testimony of great spiritual revival for our country and nation. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in the various persecutions and tribulations experienced by our churches, pastors, and all saints!
Zhengzhou Zhongxing Christian Church
May 26, 2023
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