We have been following what has been happening in China especially with Shouwang Church in Beijing where Christian persecution has increased in recent weeks and months.
According to China Aid and The Baptist Press twenty five more Christians were arrested during worship services on May 22nd, making it the seventh week in a row that Christians were targeted from Shouwang Church.
The good news is that at least eighteen of those arrested were freed by the end of the day. Please keep on praying for real religious freedom to come to our brothers and sisters in China. This is an amazing amount of faith in Christ we see, week after week, coming from this church in China.
Here's a little more on this vital story.
In one possible sign that the confrontation is not nearing an end, the last two weeks have seen an increase in the number of church members attending the illegal service. After 13 members were arrested in the fifth week, 20 were arrested last week, and now 25.
The confrontation between the church and the government began in April, when Shouwang -- one of Beijing's largest illegal churches -- said it would meet at a public square in Beijing, despite warnings from the government not to do so. Each week it has tried to meet at the same spot, only to be stopped by police. The church has been forced to try to meet outdoors because the Chinese government forced it out of its indoor facilities.
Hundreds of church members have been placed under weekend house arrest during the seven-week stretch, prevented from even leaving their homes. The church has nearly 1,000 members.
Please ask your friends and church to pray today for China.