Chinese Police Arrests Top Church Leader, Believers Fear for His Life

Beijing, China – Amid an intense crackdown on China's house churches, authorities arrested one of the country's top Christian leaders, the author of a bold manifesto delivered to the communist regime.

Zhang Rongliang, 53, was taken into custody on December 1 at his apartment in Xuzhai village, Zhengzhou city, Henan province, the China Aid Association reported. He is believed to be held incommunicado in the Jinshui area in Zhengzhou.

The communist government allows worship only in state–supervised churches, which claim about 11 million members. Authorities have cracked down on unofficial churches in recent months, detaining scores of organizers and sending many to labor camps.

Zhang leads the Fangcheng Mother Church in Henan and the China for Christ Church, one of the largest house church networks in the country with an estimated 10 million members. The Fangcheng church was designated a cult in 1999 amid a major clampdown on independent religious groups.

The case is now being made public and is expected to attract significant attention as Pastor Zhang has a notable international profile. Co–author of the House Churches of China's Confession of Faith and Declaration in 1999, he is well known to many international organizations and individuals and has been featured in books such as "Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity Is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power," by former Time magazine journalist David Aikman, and in articles and magazines such as Newsweek. It is feared that he may face more intense persecution as a result of his high profile and his international connections.

Zhang already has spent 12 years in prison during five separate detentions since his secret baptism in 1969, VOM said. He experienced harsh torture, including electric shocks, during his prison terms.

VOM sources said a witness saw a Ministry of State Security vehicle parked near Zhang's apartment before the arrest. His wife and children were not home at the time and now are in hiding.

According to news sources, on the evening of the arrest, police surrounded Xuzhai village and searched every house. It is believed that Zhang's wife and children were the targets of the search.

Authorities confiscated Zhang's Christian DVDs, publicity materials and photos revealing contacts between Zhang’s church and those overseas.

Contacts with foreign evangelical groups are considered especially sensitive because communist leaders regard them as possible channels for foreign subversion.

At least three house churches in the Fangcheng area were raided recently after Zhang's arrest, including the house of the parents of Xiao Min, who is sought by authorities because of her prolific writing of Chinese worship songs known as "Canaan Hymns."

Zhang's arrest comes amid a serious crackdown on China's house churches amid a "generally worsening situation and increased arrests."

All Protestant and Catholic churches in China are required to be under control of the government, and groups that do not register – the vast majority – are included in the list of "illegal cults."

According to news sources, the communist government is engaged in a disinformation campaign, similar to one used against the Falun Gong before the major crackdown against the sect.

Articles on an overseas pro–China website called DUOWEI news and in the New York Times portrayed house churches as secret religious fanatics who even commit murder in a battle for new membership.

It is believed that the Chinese government purposely provided misleading and false information to the news outlets by linking the house church with "a criminal group disguised as religion called Eastern Lightning."

In September, more than 100 pastors were arrested in Kaifeng city alone, and at least 11 have been sentenced to one to three years of "re–education through labor."

The pastors sentenced are Zhang Wanshun, Ping Xinsheng, Guo Zhumei ,Yang Jianshe, Zhang Weifang, Zhang Tianyun, Yu Xiangzhi, Yu Guoying, Shun Fu, Chen Yanjing and Li Qun.

Ranging in age from 25 to 57, each was accused as "leaders of an evil cult" and already has experienced harsh treatment, including severe beatings.

It is feared that "as the leader of a large house–church network, he could be classified as an evil cult leader," Zhang, who has suffered from diabetes for five years, could face harsh treatment by police.

Police also are seeking Zhang's two sons and could pressure him to give information about them and the activities of other church leaders.