Chinese Christians Fear For Life of Disappeared House Church Leader

(ANS) – Chinese house church leader Xu Shuangfu’s whereabouts and condition are unknown, and Chinese Christians fear for his life after another believer was tortured to death by Chinese police, the Voice Of the Martyrs (VOM) said Friday, June 11. Xu, leader of the 500-thousand strong house church group “Three Grades Servants” in Henan Province , northeast China , was arrested April 26th, and since then family members have been prevented from seeing him, reported VOM, which investigates the plight of persecuted churches. He was detained by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Harbin City , Heilongjiang province, along with other believers including Gu Xianggao, a teacher of the group. Gu, 28, was beaten to death the next day while in the custody of PSB officers, his family and human rights watchdogs say. If Xu is convicted of leading a so-called “Evil Cult,” he could also face the death penalty, and he may be executed already.