A Christian man and woman from central China are on the run after their church was raided and they were given a fine, persecuted church agency Open Doors has revealed.
Qiang (not his real name) and his wife had been discipling believers from the Han Chinese ethnic majority group before it was raided earlier this year. House churches are illegal in China, where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-approved, heavily monitored Three Self Patriotic Church is the only one permitted. Several leaders, including the couple and the church’s main leader, were arrested. Most were detained for five days and fined the equivalent of £2,100, but the leader will be held indefinitely as he is unable to pay his fine of £32,200.
Qiang and his wife have also not paid their fine and have since escaped to another province. They remain wanted by the authorities, who continue to visit their home demanding the fine. Threats have even been made to family members to get them to disclose the couple’s whereabouts. But even if they could pay the fine, the couple fear the case against them will remain open, leading to more punishment. They are therefore very reluctant to return.
