YUNNAN PROVINCE, China — Police in China disrupted a baptism service, detained all attendees and, ultimately, jailed a pastor.
The last of 13 new believers had just been baptized Oct. 15 in Zhenxiong in China’s Yunnan province when more than 20 police officers entered the meeting place and broke up the service. Police confiscated phones, searched pockets and took the approximately 30 attendees — with an average age over 70 — to Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau, states the rights group ChinaAid.
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John Cao, a visiting pastor who officiated at the service, was released from custody later that day, and Changsha Public Security Bureau escorted him to Changsha.
‘Illegal evangelism’
However, Chang Hao, the church’s pastor, was given 12 days of detention for “illegal religious gathering,” states ChinaAid. Chang Hao has previously received more than 20 such detentions for “illegal evangelism.”
The elderly attendees were kept at the police station until midnight and reportedly were granted water and bread only after numerous requests, says ChinaAid.
In addition, “police destroyed the (church’s) meeting place, smashing the projector and confiscating the church’s Bible and other equipment,” ChinaAid reports.
China is No. 19 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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