Skip to main content

Chinese Authorities Blow Up Christian Mega Church With Dynamite

Chinese authorities have demolished a well-known Christian megachurch, inflaming long-standing tensions between religious groups and the Communist Party.

Witnesses and overseas activists said the paramilitary People’s Armed Police used dynamite and excavators to destroy the Golden Lampstand Church, which has a congregation of more than 50,000, in the city of Linfen in Shanxi province.

ChinaAid, a US-based Christian advocacy group, said local authorities planted explosives in an underground worship hall to demolish the building following, constructed with nearly $2.6m (£1.9m) in contributions from local worshippers in one of China’s poorest regions.

Chinese Communist Party cracks down on religion

The church had faced “repeated persecution” by the Chinese government, said ChinaAid. Hundreds of police and hired thugs smashed the building and seized Bibles in an earlier crackdown in 2009 that ended with the arrest of church leaders.

Those church leaders were given prison sentences of up to seven years for charges of illegally occupying farmland and disturbing traffic order, according to state media.

There are an estimated 60 million Christians in China, many of whom worship in independent congregations like the Golden Lampstand. Millions of Christians, Buddhists and Muslims also worship in state-sanctioned assemblies.

But the surging popularity of non-state-approved churches has raised the ire of authorities, wary of any threats to the officially atheist Communist Party’s rigid political and social control.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed under China’s constitution, so local authorities are often seen as using technicalities to attack unregistered churches. Charges of land or building violations and disturbing the peace are among the most common.

The state-run Global Times newspaper reported the official reason for the demolition was the building did not hold the necessary permits.

More in Home
Can Polygamy Make Man Lesser Christian?
Bishop Taiwo Akinola
Pastor Wole Oladiyun
BISHOP THEOPHILUS UGOCHUKWU

“A Christian offered his farmland to a local Christian association and they secretly built a church using the cover of building a warehouse,” a government department official was quoted as saying.

Religious groups must register with local religious affairs authorities under Chinese law, the report said, adding the church was illegally constructed nearly a decade ago in violation of building codes.

“The repeated persecution of Golden Lampstand Church demonstrates that the Chinese government has no respect for religious freedom or human rights,” said ChinaAid president and founder Bob Fu.

He added: “ChinaAid calls on the international community to openly condemn the bombing of this church building and urge the Chinese government to fairly compensate the Christians who paid for it and immediately cease these alarming demolitions of churches.”

A pastor at a nearby church, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he saw large numbers of paramilitary police on Tuesday surrounding the area around the church, which was being taken apart by heavy machinery. He later heard a loud explosion.

The Golden Lampstand Church was built by husband and wife evangelists Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli as a permanent home for their followers.

The couple had been preaching around Linfen since 1992, establishing congregations in improvised spaces such as factory dormitories and greenhouses.

While authorities did not block the church’s construction, they later cracked down on it, and the couple and other church leaders were sent to prison.

ChinaAid said authorities also demolished a Catholic church in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province, on 27 December. Officials smashed crosses and confiscated statues, the Eucharistic altar, and other religious artefacts as they demolished the building with heavy machinery, the organisation said.

The demolition prompted more 100 church members to protest in front of government offices this week.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Actress Chizzy Alichi Gets Married Traditionally In Enugu (Photos)

 IMAGE CELEBRITIES Actress Chizzy Alichi Gets Married Traditionally In Enugu (Photos) By  Adebiyi Chioma   On  Dec 9, 2019 Share Facebook Twitter WhatsApp BlackBerry Google+ Pinterest ReddIt Email Linkedin Tumblr StumbleUpon Seasoned Nollywood actress,  Chizzy Alichi and her hearthrob,  Chike Ugochukwu  married traditionally on Saturday December 7,2019. The actress who got engaged to her fiancee in September 2019, had her traditional marriage at her hometown in Enugu State and her colleagues turned up in their numbers to support her. Celebrities, such as, Judy Austin, Eve Esin, Iheoma Nancy, Patience Ozokwor and many others were spotted at the grand ceremony. Check-Out photos from the traditional wedding below: READ ALSO Why My Marriage To Star Actress, Foluke Daramola Can Never Crash –… READ ALSO: Similar Topics Photos: Married woman caught pant down with ex-lover, faces jungle justice in Enugu Actress Kate Henshaw glows in stunning new photos Your own marriage will pack up, not min

Emma Emordi, the ex-husband of Psquare’s sister, Mary Okoye speaks on their failed marriage

Emma Emordi, the ex-husband of Psquare’s sister, Mary Okoye speaks on their failed marriage   Iyanu Sunkanmi 21 hours ago Earlier today, News broke that the marriage of Mary Okoye, younger of Psaure brothers,  to actor Emma Mordi had crashed over allegations of cheating against the actor. Well, Emma Emordi, has now broken his silence after she made huge allegations against him on social media. The couple got married in 2014 and a few hours ago via Facebook, Mary confirmed that their marriage was over. She alleged that her ex-hubby infected her with STDs and stole from her during their marriage. Emma has now reacted to her allegation via his Facebook page. He wrote ”The man or woman you choose to be your partner affects everything in your life: your mental health, your peace of mind, the love inside of you, your happiness, how you get through tragedies, your success, how your children will be raised, and so much more.. choose very wisely… Soon a story will be told to the surprise of all

WOMAN GIVES BIRTH OUTSIDE HOSPITAL IN MEXICO AFTER BEING DENIED ENTRY FOR LACK OF MONEY

ABC NEWS, the truth shall set you FREE!!! Monday, 27 November 2017 WOMAN GIVES BIRTH OUTSIDE HOSPITAL IN MEXICO AFTER BEING DENIED ENTRY FOR LACK OF MONEY         A woman in Mexico gave birth outside a hospital in Mexico  after she was denied admission at the hospital for lacking finance to pay.          The woman who begged for 4 hours and even offered to sell her only family inherited land to compensate for the charges was denied entry all the same, the labour pain grew stronger and she had to give birth by herself at the hospital yard with everyone watching and no one helping.       its sad what  our world has grown into, PLEASE SHARE THIS ON YOUR FACEBOOK SO THAT THE WORLD WILL LEARN TO VALUE HUMAN LIFE MORE THAN MONEY. WATCH THE VIDEO ON THIS LINK --->>>   https://youtu