Christians Form Human Shield Around Church in 'China's Jerusalem' After Demolition Threat

The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 4/4/14 | Tom Phillips

[marshmallow]

Christians have flocked to defend a church in eastern China after Communist Party officials claimed it was an "illegal construction" and announced plans to demolish it

Thousands of Chinese Christians have mounted an extraordinary, round-the-clock defence of a church in a city known as the 'Jerusalem of the East' after Communist Party officials threatened to bulldoze their place of worship.

In an episode that underlines the fierce and long-standing friction between China's officially atheist Communist Party and its rapidly growing Christian congregation, Bible-carrying believers this week flocked to the Sanjiang church in Wenzhou hoping to protect it from the bulldozers.

Their 24-hour guard began earlier this week when a demolition notice was plastered onto the newly-constructed church which worshippers say cost around 30 million yuan (£2.91 million) and almost six years to build.

Officials claimed the church had been built illegally and used red paint to daub the words: "Demolish" and "Illegal construction" onto its towering facade.

The threat triggered a furious reaction in Wenzhou, a booming port city known for its vibrant Christian community, said to be China's largest.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Don’t expect the mass media to report what happens if the government cracks down on them.

[kitkat]

God Bless those Christians.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Meanwhile, Christians in America wont go to the polls to vote.

[Telepathic Intruder]

I would expect that God places putting one’s self at risk for the truth of His Word above few other things.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks marshmallow. Pitchfork Pat, from the FRchives:

• Patrick Buchanan: Are The Senkakus Worth A War? – OpEd

[huldah1776]

Pray that their neighbors spread the word and the Word is spread.

[gura]

Well said.