House Church Leader and Elderly Mother Formally Charged in China

UPDATE – On February 8, Beijing house-church leader Hua Huiqi was formally arrested by Beijing Public Security Bureau Chaoyang Branch and his 76-year-old mother was arrested for the second time by Beijing Security Bureau Chongwen Branch.

In January, Hua Huiqi and his elderly mother were attacked and wounded by seven police officers while walking near a 2008 Olympic hotel site in Beijing, China. His family later learned he was sentenced to one month of criminal detention.

“We are deeply concerned about Brother Hua and his elderly, ill mother. They are faithful Christians seeking only to serve the Lord in accordance with their conscience. We encourage Christians around the world to pray for their family, and we strongly urge the Chinese government to release them immediately,” said Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs.