Three Self Church in Anhui Faces Cross Removal, Preacher Detained

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China (International Christian Concern) – ICC recently reports that local authorities in Huainan city, Anhui province on July 12 notified the elderly members of a Three-Self church that their cross will soon be removed.

Since then, the elderly members have been faithfully guarding their church at the road leading to their church while singing hymns. Although the cross still sits atop their church, their preacher and her husband were briefly detained by the authorities.

According to China Aid, preacher Liu Aijia of Shiwan Christ Church in Fengtai County was taken away on July 28. Her husband who works in other province also was brought back by the police. None of her church members was able to locate them.

Liu was released on July 30 and has returned home.

Radio Free Asia reports that the church was established as a state-sanctioned Three Self church, but due to the continuous interference from the local authorities on its sermon, the previous pastor left. After preacher Liu took over, her reluctance to work with the authorities on sermons and her plan to build a house church led to the crackdown against her church.

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Three Self Church in Anhui Faces Cross Removal, Preacher Detained