Breaking News: 200 Held In Underground Church Raids

This news has just broke about 2 hours ago, as of the time of this posting.

The Standard, a Chinese paper, is reporting the following news:

Authorities recently detained more than 200 members and clergy of underground churches in several provinces, closed down a Shanghai church and harassed two US tourists in a renewed campaign against unauthorized religious activity, a US-based activist says.

The two Americans, both theological students, were detained August 2 while attending a church service with 41 Chinese churchgoers at a home in Lutou, a village in Hubei province, Bob Fu, a church monitor based in Midland, Texas, said Tuesday. The two students were later released but complained of mistreatment, Fu said.

See previous post.

China's authorities allow worship only in tightly controlled state churches and those who meet outside are often harassed and fined, and sometimes sent to labor camps. Despite those risks, up to 50 million Chinese are believed to worship in unofficial Protestant congregations, far more than the 10 million followers claimed by the official Protestant church, which is called the ``Three-Self Patriotic Movement.''

The authorities periodically conduct campaigns to help discourage such unauthorized groups.

Citing eyewitnesses, Fu said the officers confiscated personal Bibles and other books, and took money and belongings from the Chinese churchgoers and the family hosting the gathering.

Fu also said Shanghai authorities ordered a 16-year-old church with 400 members to close down on July 26. A stamped official notice on the gate of the church's building declared the assembly an ``illegal religious gathering,'' he said.

Pray!  You have no reason not to be.