29 Chinese Christians arrested

Just two weeks before Christmas, the Chinese government yesterday arrested 29 Christians for holding an "illegal religious gathering."

According to the China Aid Association, citing eyewitness reports, 40 law enforcement officers with eight police vehicles raided a house church leadership meeting at Xiapigang Village in China's Henan Province. Some 100 major church leaders from Henan and Anhui were gathered at a believer's house, discussing how the house churches could help a large group of peasants who had contracted AIDS. That area is widely known as "the AIDS Disaster Area" because many peasants became infected when they sold their blood to local blood centers contaminated with the AIDS virus.

When the 29 leaders were arrested, say witnesses, their private property was confiscated without receipts, including three motor bicycles, one cell phone, all of their luggage and winter blankets. According to one pastor who was at the raided meeting, the police officers showed a search warrant and stated the meeting was an "illegal religious gathering."

Pastor Shen Yiping, the founder of internationally known House Church group called China Gospel Fellowship, as well as the host of the meeting, Yang Huamin, were among those arrested.

The China Aid Association condemns the arrest of the church leaders and is urging their immediate release. The group says letters of protest can be sent to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. at this address: Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, 2300 Connecticut Ave N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008. Phone 202-328-2500.

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