Guiyang Renai Reformed Church, a small house church with less than 100 members, has steadfastly refused to join the government-sanctioned Three-Self church. Throughout the years, as Renai Reformed Church has accommodated Christians from all over the country, members also significantly supported China’s Christian ministries.
Elder Zhang Chunlei and several other Christians traveled to the police station to negotiate with officers. While Elder Zhan expressed his determination to remain inside the police station until officials released the last detained Christian, other Christians waited outside.
In 2018, Elder Zhang, a primary leader in Renai Reformed Church, signed to show support for the campaign pastor Wang Yi initiated: “A joint statement by pastors: a declaration for the sake of the Christian faith.” Soon afterwards, on December 9, 2018, the CCP executed a massive arrest against Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church members.
During a later trip, when Elder Zhang traveled to Chengdu to visit families of ERCC, while at the home of Ran Yunfei, Chengdu Taisheng Road police forcibly transported him to their station. In another incident, while he visited Elder Li Yingqiang’s wife, Ms. Zhang Xinyue, officials seized Elder Zhang and handed him over to Guiyang National Security agents. These officials then forced Elder Zhang to board a plane.
Nanming District Religious Affairs Bureau issued an administrative penalty decision to Guiyang Renai Reformed Church. CCP agents had banned this church on September 30, 2018. The administrative penalty decision to the church claims that Zhang Chunlei and others:
- established a religious venue in the Zhongtian Commerce Building,
- organized religious events, and
- received offerings without being approved.
The administrative penalty decision ordered churches and other religious venues to cancel all religious events, and to remove the church’s equipment and signs.
After the church lost their venue, Christians held Sunday services in restaurants and hotels. On May 12th, 2019, as Christians held their Sunday service in a hotel, police raided the church. Approximately 80 CCP agents from the religious affairs bureau, public security department, and others stormed Guiyang Renai Reformed Church. Less than 100 members attend this church.
CCP officials removed the cross from the church, and confiscated Elder Zhang’s computer and other personal possessions. The CCP has raided the church three times within one year, and sealed the church’s door twice. In July 2019, after CCP authorities threatened the landlord, the church again had to move from their newly rented place.
~ Report by Yubing, ChinaAid Special Correspondent
ChinaAid Media Team
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