The Chinese government’s control and suppression of house churches became increasingly severe in 2024. The main charges levelled against them include ‘illegal gatherings’ and ‘fraud.’
In August, a woman named Fan was accused of illegal gathering after she invited around 20 church members to her home to pray for her sick husband and read the Bible. Fan was made to sign a guarantee letter and was fined 5,000 yuan.
This was in Fengqing County (Yunnan Province), where half of the churches have been demolished in the past ten years. Villagers were told that any gathering of more than four people would be deemed illegal.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/china
Sunday 25 May
‘You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.’ (Psalm 56:8 NLT) Pray that all those unjustly imprisoned in China would know the comfort of the God who sees their sorrows.
Monday 26 May
Pastor Sun Chenghao (an ethnic Korean pastor) has been arbitrarily detained since December 2023 on suspicion of ‘organising others to sneak across the border’. This was after he and his friends travelled to Jeju Island, South Korea for a sightseeing trip. Pray for Pastor Sun’s release.
Tuesday 27 May
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is the 11th Panchem Lama – one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism. It’s now been more than 30 years since the Chinese government forcibly disappeared six-year-old Gedhun and his family on 17 May 1995. Pray for answers today.
Wednesday 28 May
A group of 40 Uyghur men were deported from Thailand to China in February, where they will likely face torture or other cruel and inhuman punishment. They had been detained in Thailand for more than a decade, having fled persecution in China. Pray for their freedom, and for an end to the persecution of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups.
Thursday 29 May
Last November, the Hong Kong Hight Court sentenced 45 activists for their involvement in pro-democracy protests in June 2020. The sentences – ranging from four to ten years in prison – raise serious concerns for the direction of human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. Please pray that they are overturned.
Friday 30 May
On Christmas Day 2024, authorities in Tibet charged ten Christians from the ‘All Ranges’ house church with ‘organising and utilising cult organisations’. Seven of the group have been released on bail; three remain in detention. Pray that the charges against all of them would be dismissed.
Saturday 31 May
Lord God, we lift the vast nation of China to you today. We thank you that there is not a single injustice that escapes your sight, and ask you to work miracles in cases where it seems there is no hope. Amen.