International Christian Concern | Nov. 12, 2018
A church in China’s southern Hunan province remains victim to unrelenting harassment from Chinese authorities. The local church experiences frequent visits from authorities that interrupt services, forcibly interrogate congregants, and vandalize church property.
The church pastor, Zhang Ganghua, recently signed a joint letter that called on authorities to stop persecuting churches, emphasizing their right to religious freedom. The joint letter has been of particular focus for the police that raid the church. Officials initially vandalized church property and later asked to meet with the church pastor.
When a meeting with the pastor was arranged, officials interrogated the pastor on his beliefs and his part in signing the joint letter. The authorities asked if the pastor still condoned the contents of the letter, stating that now was the opportunity to disown it.