CHINA – Pastor and wife detained after raids on church

A very interesting post from www.RealeaseInternational.org about Christians being persecuted in China, Iran, and Pakistan! This follows this post about Muslim murders in Nigeria.  This follows this article about American energy independence and preventing money from going to hostile countries such as Iran . For more about what is happening in the nation now click here and you can read two very interesting books HERE.

CHINA – Pastor and wife detained after raids on church




A pastor's wife and several other Christians remain in detention after two raids on a house church in south-west China's Sichuan province.



During the first raid on Thursday, the pastor and 15 other leaders of Langzhong house church were taken into custody after police and security agents raided a music practice. The group's brass instruments were confiscated, according to Release partner China Aid.



Ten of the 16 were released the next day but six church leaders, including Pastor Li Min, were sentenced to between three and 15 days' administrative detention.



Then, on Friday, police and security agents raided a prayer meeting of the same church – and detained Pastor Li's wife, Song Liangyu.



The house church has about 1,000 members and has suffered persecution before. In May 2012, for example, a meeting of the church in Zhanggongqiao village was raided by officials, who banned its leaders from holding further gatherings.



(Source: China Aid)



For a country profile about China, click here



• Pray for the immediate release of all the detained church members. Thank God for their courage in continuing with their ministry despite pressure to give up.

• Pray that the witness of these detainees will move the officials involved in their arrest.





NEWS UPDATES:

The health of detained Iranian pastor Behnam Irani is said to be improving. He still has problems with his back and digestive system, but his condition has stabilised, even though he has not received medical treatment from the Iranian authorities. Pastor Irani is serving a total of six years in Karaj Ghezal Hesar prison because of his faith. For more information, click here. Thank God for this improvement and please continue to pray for his release. (Source: Release contact)



The cases against Pakistani Christians Sawan Masih and Martha Bibi, both accused of blasphemy, will be back in court in Lahore tomorrow. Final arguments in the trial of Martha Bibi are due to be heard at the High Court, say Release partners. Martha was accused of blasphemy in 2007 after an argument with local builders. Meanwhile, at a Sessions Court in the city, judges will consider the case against Sawan Masih, a roadsweeper from Joseph Colony, Lahore. Blasphemy accusations against Sawan sparked extremist violence which led to the destruction of more than 200 Christian homes (Prayer Alert, March 11). Pray for justice for both Christians. (Source: Release partners)