PENGLAI, China — A Chinese pastor and his wife were slain Aug. 31 at Penglai Christian Church, where Lottie Moon, an icon of Southern Baptist missions work, served in the early 1900s in Penglai, China.
Pastor Qin Jia Ye and his wife Hong En He, both in their 80s, were killed in the church’s office Aug. 31.
The suspect — a 40-year-old former church member — was arrested within an hour of the early morning incident.
The couple’s violent death is a shock to many, both in China and the United States.
The church was closed for 49 years after communists came to power at the end of World War II, reopening in 1988 with only 20 people.
Qin reported 300 baptisms several years in a row. Today, there are 3,600 members. Chinese newspaper accounts state that the suspect entered the church office carrying an ax and struck the pastor and his wife, killing them both.
The church eventually outgrew Moon’s original structure and built a modern 1,500-seat sanctuary next to it with the help of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga.
“From the moment I met Pastor Qin, I could sense a Christlike spirit,” said Bryant Wright, Johnson Ferry senior pastor and current Southern Baptist Convention president.
“We are incredibly saddened by this tragic event, but we know one of the Lord’s faithful servants is with Him forever in Heaven.”
Qin graciously acted as tour guide for a large number of Southern Baptist leaders passing through Penglai and wanting to connect with the community where Moon served.
Wanda S. Lee, executive director of national Woman’s Missionary Union, visited the church during a 1997 China tour. In spite of numerous church responsibilities, Qin and his wife welcomed the group warmly, Lee said. It was obvious they were well loved and respected, she said.
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