China churches cry out against persecution amid new church demolition attempts by authorities

Members of a Christian church in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province in China cried foul when authorities attempted to demolish their church building last week.

On April 18, the members of Yingmochen Church found out about the government's plan to have their building destroyed. To prevent the authorities from carrying out the demolition, about a hundred of them gathered in the church, praying and worshiping, in the hope of stopping the demolition crew.

Their plan proved to be successful and their building was not destroyed that day, China Aid reports.

Speaking up against the persecution they faced from the government, the church members began to state their grievances toward the authorities for the treatment they get.

"We are very disappointed in the government. What should we do in confronting this type of government? How [loud] must we shout? How much must we pray to God?" a church attendee said. "We have been plundered and coerced, and our lives are full of all kinds of danger."

The believers also mentioned the case of a Christian woman who had been buried alive after attempting to block a bulldozer from destroying her church earlier this month.

According to a previous China Aid report, the victim Ding Cuimei and her husband Li Jiangong, who was the leader of the Beitou Church in Henan province, stood in front of the bulldozer in an attempt to halt the demolition.

However, the official in charge ordered that they be buried alive. Li was able to escape, but his wife died from suffocation.

"We really hope the authorities will pay attention to us and be concerned about us," a Yingmochen Church member said.

Another one lamented that the government remains unmindful of the pain they go through, saying that they continue to be persecuted "regardless of the results."

Chinese authorities have recently cracked down on Christian churches by running their buildings to the ground or removing the crosses from the buildings.