Chinese Christian arrested for printing church material

A Chinese Christian was arrested after he printed religious material for his house church.

Li Hongmin was detained by government officials on June 6 in Guangzhou, according to the charity China Aid. His phone and other property were confiscated and he was accused of "illegal business operations" in the capital of China's southern Guangdong province.

As he was removed Li was told he would be allowed to go home after two hours, China Aid said. But he was not released and several hours later police officers returned to his home and told his wife Li needed his phone, tricking her into handing it over to the authorities.

Li's wife was further tricked into paying detention fees after she was told her husband would only be detained for one week.

One local Christian explained the situation to the charity: "Those police officers went back to his house and told [his wife] that her husband needed a cell phone, and that was how they obtained his phone. Then the officers came back that night to take away his things.

"They lied and said that Li would only be detained for seven days, tricking his family members into paying a fee to the detention center."

Later that evening the officers returned and occupied the house for the rest of the night. Li's wife insisted the documents printed were not offensive.

"The materials we printed were not heresies," she told China Aid. "They were not opposed to the Communist Party in any way. On the contrary, they teach people to help others, to love their fellow countrymen, their home and their country."

The arrest is part of a wider crackdown on Christians from Chinese authorities. Christians were forced to abandon prayer meetings in Handen in early June after police claimed they did not have permission.

related articles
China: Christians forbidden from holding prayer meeting deemed 'illegal' by authorities

China: Christians forbidden from holding prayer meeting deemed 'illegal' by authorities

China: Bishop under house arrest who 'stood up to China' alludes to shock turnaround

China: Bishop under house arrest who 'stood up to China' alludes to shock turnaround

Vietnam: Church raided, congregation beaten and 14-year-old arrested

Vietnam: Church raided, congregation beaten and 14-year-old arrested

Human rights campaigners call on China to drop cases against lawyers
Human rights campaigners call on China to drop cases against lawyers

Human rights campaigners call on China to drop cases against lawyers

News
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches

Every Christmas, people sing the song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”. Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story …

The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914
The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914

On Christmas Eve in 1914, many men were in the trenches fighting the war, but the spirit of Christmas halted the conflict for a brief period. This is the story …

Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land
Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land

Jerusalem Church leaders have released a report detailing the struggles and challenges currently faced be Christians living in the Holy Land.

Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?
Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?

For you who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a long time, maybe the pain and suffering of this world and the darkness you have had to live through this past year has gotten you down to the point of complete and utter discouragement. But all is not lost.