House Church Alliance's No. 2 Sentenced to Labor Camp

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

SUQIAN CITY, JIANGSU (ANS) -- In a further sign of the intensifying crackdown on China's unregistered house churches, the deputy chairman of the Chinese House Church Alliance has been given a two-year labor camp sentence.

Pastor Shi Enhao

According to a news release from ChinaAid, Pastor Shi Enhao has been sentenced to two years of "re-education through labor," an extra-judicial punishment handed out by police and requiring no trial or conviction of a crime. It is often used for those who have committed minor criminal offenses or for dissidents and adherents of religious groups, such as house church Christians and Falun Gong practitioners.

ChinaAid said the charge on the sentencing papers is "illegal meetings and illegal organizing of venues for religious meetings." This charge stems from the fact that Enhao's large house church of several thousand members meets in various sites around the city.

According to ChinaAid, the greater significance of Enhao's sentencing on this charge has to do with the events surrounding the Shouwang Church in Beijing, and its controversial decision in April to meet outdoors after being evicted once again from its leased meeting site.

ChinaAid said critics of Shouwang's decision pointed out that when other house churches have grown too large to meet in one place without making local officials nervous, most have avoided clashes with the authorities by breaking into smaller groups meeting in different locations. Enhao's charge and sentence demonstrate that this strategy does not guarantee authorities will be satisfied.

Enhao's son, Shi Yongyang, ChinaAid said, has signed the sentencing paperwork under police pressure. However, police refused to give him a copy of the signed documents.

Meanwhile, ChinaAid said, the country's Domestic Security Protection Department has ordered Enhao's church to stop meeting, and confiscated the congregation's car, musical instruments and choir robes, as well as $21,712.50 in donations.

All three of Enhao's daughters and their husbands have been threatened by the police.

ChinaAid said Enhao was detained on May 31 by police in Suqian city, coastal Jiangsu province, and held for 12 days. On June 21, he was criminally detained by the Suqian Public Security Bureau. Criminal detention is the first step in a legal process that almost inevitably leads to a prison sentence.

Enhao and his wife, Zhu Guangyun, are both 55 years old. His 86-year-old mother, Liu Guanglan, requires round-the-clock care, which Enhao's wife provides. Enhao's son, Shi Yongyang, and his wife are both in full-time ministry. Four generations of Enhao's family have been serving the church.

ChinaAid said organizational Founder and President Bob Fu expressed shock at the news and strongly condemned the authorities in Jiangsu's Suqian city for sentencing Enhao. He also called on the church and the international community to express their concern for and come to the aid of Enhao.

More details of Enhao's case are available in ChinaAid's earlier report www.chinaaid.org/2011/07/chinese-house-church-alliance-deputy.html

 

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Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter,http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds atjeremyreynalds@comcast.net.

Praying for A Miracle on Children's Religious Rights

Children's rights to attend
 worship services and functions
 in Tajikistan are under attack
 with new laws waiting to be passed.
 (Photo courtesy of Grace Episcopal Church)

Tajikistan (MNN) ―Parliament in Tajikistan adopted two new laws Thursday July 21 which would ban most children under the age of 18 from religious activities.

As reported by Forum 18, these documents are to be forwarded to President Emomali Rahmon for his approval. If President Rahmon signs these legal documents, it could spell out increased suppression of parent and child religious rights in the country.

Joel Griffith with Slavic Gospel Association says, "Apparently the Presidential administration was sort of behind [the effort] to put this kind of a law through to begin with, so the initiative came from there. So if it's not signed, it would certainly be a miracle."

Specifically, the two measures adopted are the Parental Responsibility Law and the Criminal Code amendments. These would affect many religious organizations, including churches in Tajikistan supported by Slavic Gospel Association.

The Parental Responsibility Law, in practice, would place a ban on most children under 18 from participating in religious activities. The Office of Human Rights in Tajikistan told Forum 18 that the law is needed especially for parents who lose control of their children to extremist religious groups.

"I'm sure the government would say that it's aimed basically at extremism," says Griffith. "It's really difficult to know what their real motivation is for passing such a thing, because it goes beyond targeting just what everybody would agree maybe would be extremist elements and ends up impacting mainstream as well.... As the law is worded, it would seem to impact everybody."

On top of that, the Parental Responsibility Law also calls for parents to restrict certain types of jewelry, tattoos, and even names they can choose for their kids.

This, paired with the amendments to the Criminal Code, demonstrates the type of penalty given to violators. A maximum of two years' imprisonment would be sentenced to organizers and participants in things such as unapproved gatherings, meetings, and demonstrations.

Griffith states, "You've got local churches themselves that would be impacted by this; there's question whether children would even be allowed to go to a worship service until they're 18 years old.... It's a matter of deep concern to the churches."

If the laws are enacted and put into practice, state religious affairs officials told Forum 18 that they have specialists who would be in place at religious services to be sure the laws are being followed. If they find kids or teens in religious activities, higher structures will be appealed to.

Griffith assures, "Evangelical churches are going to continue to proclaim the Gospel no matter what, and I'm sure that they are going to continue to teach their children the things of the Lord. But obviously as they proceed to do that, it would put churches and their families at great risk if this [proposed law] is enforced aggressively."

Please pray that these laws would not be signed by Tajikistan's President. If the laws are passed, pray that they truly are limited to extremist groups and would not endanger the evangelical church in the country and that the Lord would protect them.

Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will." (ESV)

Pastor Taken from Home, Likely to Be Killed

Iraq (MNN) ― An Iraqi pastor was recently kidnapped and is expected to face death at the hands of his attackers.

Voice of the Martyrs, Canadareports that the house church leader's daughter recently witnessed her father's capture when a group of militants broke into their home.

Pastor Jamal reportedly works among the Shabak people--a people who have Jewish roots and speak Arabic and Kurdish. Several weeks ago, militants attacked the home of one of Jamal's converts with machine gun fire.

It is suspected that the militants targeted Jamal because he has led many Muslims to Christ. It's feared that the pastor will not be released, but instead will likely be killed by his captors.

Over the past several months, hundreds of thousands of believers have fled Iraq out of fear of just such an incident. (Read more about that here.) Pastor Jamal has bravely remained where he is but is paying the consequences for his faith in this hostile environment.

Pray that Jamal's capture would not be incentive for Christians to flee the region. Pray that believers would remain bold in their faith despite this frightening setback.

Pray for Jamal's safety and for peace for his family. Follow up with the pastor's plight on the Voice of the Martyrs Web site.

To learn more about the persecuted Christ-followers of Iraq, click here.

Persecuted Church News: Letter-writing Campaign Shows Support for Iranian ...

Persecuted Church News: Letter-writing Campaign Shows Support for Iranian ...: "By Michael Ireland Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service RASHT, IRAN (ANS) -- While Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in an Irani..."

Letter-writing Campaign Shows Support for Iranian Pastor Awaiting Death Sentence

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

RASHT, IRAN (ANS) -- While Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in an Iranian prison awaiting re-examination of his case on charges of apostasy sometime in September, ASSIST News Service has received word that so far 1,444 letters have been sent in order to encourage to him.

Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries (www.presenttruthmn.com  ) says that until Nadarkhani's case is reconsidered by the lower court, "it is critical that we continue in prayer for him, that God's purpose would be accomplished through him."

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani (Photo courtesy Present Truth Ministries)

Nadarkhani faces execution by hanging, unless he recants his faith in Jesus Christ.

"We are receiving reports that he is standing firm and strong in his faith, even encouraging those who are discouraged, exhorting them to trust in the Lord," DeMars said.

He continued: "It is also recommended that we continue to send encouraging letters to him using Voice of the Martyr's program, 'Prisoner Alert.' Please do not include money or any other type of gift. The prison guards will take these things for themselves. The letters do not always get through to brother Youcef, but they include scripture and encouraging words, so even if only the prison guards read them, you may be planting a seed of the Word of God in their hearts.

"Also, it lets the Iranian government know that this brother is not forgotten, and that thousands of people are praying for him and are concerned about his welfare."

If you go to www.prisoneralert.com  you will see Pastor Youcef's profile. You can email Iranian officials politely requesting his immediate release, and, more importantly, you can send an encouraging letter to him in prison.

Please forward this email to your friends and ask them to take action on behalf of Nadarkhani.

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** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Ne wswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter

India Briefs: Recent Incidents of Persecution

By Mahruaii Sailo

Orissa, India, July 25 (Compass Direct News) – Hindu extremists on July 14 summoned three Christian families of Missionary Grace Fellowship and demanded that they abandon Christ or face a social boycott in Lathikata, Banapur. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that a Christian woman identified only as the wife of Sarat Naik declared before the intolerant Hindus and others that she and other Christians were prepared to undergo persecution, but that under no circumstances would they abandon Christ. She said relationship with Christ had transformed their lives, according to the GCIC. Area Christian leaders were reportedly taking steps to help the Christians.

Uttar Pradesh – In what appeared to be a premeditated attack, state police arrested five pastors and a Christian woman after Hindu extremists stormed into their prayer meeting on July 13 in Bighapur, Unnoa, and accused them of forceful conversion. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that at about 11 a.m., 70 Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal attacked the meeting organized by Pastor A.B. Singh, Pastor Ganga Prasad and another identified only as Pastor Robert. Officers and extremists threatened the pastors, later arresting Pastor Prasad and Christians Om Prakash, Desh Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Prem Shankar and a woman identified only as Uma. They were released on bail at about 7 p.m. the same evening.

West Bengal – In Midnapur, Hindu extremists on July 10 seized St. Priscilla School, beating the Rev. Nathan Hazre, owner of the school, and his wife, Sabitha Hazre, while accusing them of forceful conversion. A source told Compass that the extremists removed all Christian devotional items. Led by Dr. Sushil Mahanty, the intolerant Hindus told the Christian family that they would burn them to death in the same manner that Australian Christian worker Graham Staines and his two sons, ages 10 and 6, were killed in Orissa state in 1999. In January the extremists had threatened school Principal Daniel Barik. Fearful Christians filed a police complaint, but officers had taken no action at press time.

Chhattisgarh – Hindu extremists on July 3 disrupted the Sunday worship of a Believers Church in Pali, Korba, tearing up Bibles and gospel literature and beating Pastor Sunil Masih as they accused him of forceful conversion. The Rev. Ravi Paksh, secretary of the Korba Christian Forum, reported that the extremists from the Bharatiya Janata Party forcefully entered the worship meeting at about 11:30 a.m. The extremists took the pastor and other Christians to a police station, where the Christians told police that they had not been converted by force or fraud and attended church services willingly. Officers detained the pastor for about six hours, and after area leaders’ intervention, he was released without charges.

Uttar Pradesh – An enraged mob on July 3 beat Pastor John C.V. Samuel and his wife, accusing the pastor of forceful conversion, in Manpuri. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported the incident took place when Pastor Samuel of Assembly of God’s Church, his wife and other Christians were about to attend a burial service for Anil Saxena, who had attended the church for two years and had committed suicide after an argument with his father. The mob rushed the pastor and his wife and accused them of being the cause of Saxena’s death. Saxena’s wife intervened, telling the assailants that she and her late husband went to the church of their own free will and nobody had forced them, and she called police. Officers arrived and rescued Pastor Samuel and his wife, taking them to Pushpanjali Hospital, Agra. Area Christian leaders filed a police complaint, but no actions had been taken at press time.

Chhattisgarh – Hindu extremists in Dhantulsi on July 2 attacked a Christian’s wedding reception and subsequent worship service, beating those at the gatherings and leaving their food in ruins. The Rev. Abel Varghese, area pastor and coordinator of Althea Indian Mission, told Compass that about 60 extremists beat women and children among those they attacked after barging into the wedding reception of tribal Christian Dhurau Kachalam. They also burned Christians’ vehicles. The Christians submitted a complaint to Kanker police, but the extremists continued threatening them, telling them to either stop Christian activities or leave the area. Sources said police pressured the Christians to withdraw their complaint and refused to take any action on their behalf.

Orissa – In Bendoguda, Malkangiri, Hindu radicals at midnight, June 28, destroyed a church building under construction. About 25 Christian families belonging to the Koya tribe were trying to build a worship center from their meager savings on a small piece of land donated by a Christian named Aitu Podiami. Hindu extremists had also attacked the same group of Koya tribal Christians in November 2010; at that time, with intervention from the Global Council of Indian Christians and the area sub-collector, a peace agreement between the communities had been reached. The Hindu extremists last month violated the agreement, and the village head has been pressuring tribal Christians to refrain from complaining to police about the incident.

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