China (MNN) — Voice of the Martyrs Canada reports a church leader in Inner Mongolia is behind bars, along with more than 40 of his co-workers–among them, a South Korean pastor who remains missing.
China Aid Association verifies the report, adding that the leader was identified as the president of the Inner Mongolia Branch of the Chinese House Church Alliance, Wang Dawei.
State Security Bureau police and members of the Religious Affairs Bureau arrested the group on February 20. The leaders had been in the third day of a Bible study retreat. Officials also took the offering money and more than 30 boxes of Bibles and other Christian literature.
As part of the investigation, SSB members also searched Dawei's residence.
The church in China is growing rapidly, despite government efforts to stop the movement. VOMC quotes one estimate suggesting that 6% of China's population is Christian. By contrast, Tibet has an estimated total of 300 Christians.
Pray that these leaders will be released. Ask God to give them strength and boldness of faith as they suffer for Him. Pray that the Chinese authorities behind the raids would respond to the hope of the Gospel.
