ICC Note:
As doubts continue to be raised about federal intentions to eliminate allegedly unregistered protestant churches throughout China’s Zhejiang Province, China Aid Association (CAA), a Chinese Christian missionary organization has submitted an appeal to prevent the scheduled demolition of at least five churches in Wenzhou. Tensions between Chinese believers and government, from the local to the federal levels, continue to escalate as the government sustains its attempt to quietly rid China of the growing prominence of public Christian symbology—such as crosses adorning church steeples. Pray today for freedom of worship and public expressions of faith for all those joining in the movement for Christ sweeping the lost peoples of China!
04/12/2014 China (ChinaTopix)
Chinese officials have denied allegations that they are clamping down on religious activity by ordering the demolition of Christian churches in Wenzhou in Zhejiang province.
But a recent speech by an official of Wenzhou’s Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs hinted that the Communist Party is getting uncomfortable with the fast spread of Christianity in the port city, which has come to be known as the “Jerusalem of the East”.
Such discomfort has reportedly prompted the city government to order about a dozen churches to be torn down for alleged violations of the local building code.
Taiwan-based China Aid Association (CAA), a predominantly Christian Protestant missionary group, appealed to the government to cease and desist from implementing the demolitions.
CAA said that thousands of believers attend services at Sanjiang Church, one of the churches set to be demolished, and many will be displaced if the church is torn down.
At least five churches were declared for immediate demolition.
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