Post by Paddy by Grace on Mar 12, 2010 5:38:50 GMT -7
Chinese gov't issues credible threats against church
www.onenewsnow.com/Persecution/Default.aspx?id=931374
Communist Chinese officials have said that a major evangelical church in one city will soon be destroyed.
The main headquarters for the Linfen Church Network, a six-story structure known as the Golden Lampstand Church, has recently been occupied around the clock by soldiers. Officials with ChinaAid report that the building was confiscated by the Chinese government in the aftermath of the bloody attack and destruction of Fushan Church in September of last year.
Earlier this month, an official from the Land Resources Bureau told a ChinaAid contact that the church would soon be destroyed. Annee Kahler of China Aid comments that the threat is credible.
"The Chinese government has gained momentum behind their actions because the courts have upheld the prosecutions against five innocent pastors," she explains. "And now that they've sort of been emboldened by the fact that the court system is behind it now, there really is no other legal repercussion for the Chinese government. So it's meant as a fear tactic -- to strike fear in the hearts of the members. Because members have seen this happen to another one of their churches, they are very concerned that this is a very likely possibility."
The five pastors Kahler referred to were arrested shortly after the crackdown on the Fushan Church. Those pastors are now being held on a variety of charges.
www.onenewsnow.com/Persecution/Default.aspx?id=931374
Communist Chinese officials have said that a major evangelical church in one city will soon be destroyed.
The main headquarters for the Linfen Church Network, a six-story structure known as the Golden Lampstand Church, has recently been occupied around the clock by soldiers. Officials with ChinaAid report that the building was confiscated by the Chinese government in the aftermath of the bloody attack and destruction of Fushan Church in September of last year.
Earlier this month, an official from the Land Resources Bureau told a ChinaAid contact that the church would soon be destroyed. Annee Kahler of China Aid comments that the threat is credible.
"The Chinese government has gained momentum behind their actions because the courts have upheld the prosecutions against five innocent pastors," she explains. "And now that they've sort of been emboldened by the fact that the court system is behind it now, there really is no other legal repercussion for the Chinese government. So it's meant as a fear tactic -- to strike fear in the hearts of the members. Because members have seen this happen to another one of their churches, they are very concerned that this is a very likely possibility."
The five pastors Kahler referred to were arrested shortly after the crackdown on the Fushan Church. Those pastors are now being held on a variety of charges.