What was once Beijing’s largest house church, banned in 2018, refuses to disappear, as police repression intensifies.
by Qi Junzao
Beijing Zion Church was once the largest house church in Beijing. It was banned in 2018, but despite repeated arrests and harassment devotees have continued to gather, continuously changing sites to elude police surveillance.
On July 7, one of these sites was identified by the police and raided. As the church reports, “At about 10 a.m. on July 7, while a group of young members were gathered in Haidian District, Beijing, for a Sunday service, more than twenty police officers and law enforcement officers stormed the site. All the people present were questioned and their names were recorded. Several devotees were taken to Ganjiakou police station for inquiry in the afternoon.” One sister Zhou Sirui was detained.
According to a church spokesperson, “Sister Zhou Sirui is a young member of the post-95 generation. She has believed in the Lord since she was a child. During her college years, she remained firm in her faith. She was enthusiastic about the church fellowship and actively participated in the services. For this reason, she was also often questioned by the police. However, she did not flinch because of intimidation. She was not only firm, but also encouraged young members who were weak and shaken in persecution. We are grateful to have such a young woman as a good witness in this land!”
Beijing Zion Church refuses to disappear. Believers insist it is the work of the Lord, and they will continue it despite all persecutions.
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
