A Christian family from Early Rain Church in China that fled to safety in Taiwan is speaking out for the first time about the terrifying crackdown against Christians in the communist nation.
According to a striking report from the Associated Press, 49-year-old Liao Qiang and his 23-year-old daughter said they were living under 24/7 surveillance after their church was deemed not to be sanctioned by the government.
From the AP report:
“Liao and Ren’s account is the first detailing what has happened since the detentions began at the Early Rain Covenant Church. It shows the determination of the Chinese government — and the lengths it has gone — to eradicate a congregation that has long been a thorn in its side.”
Early Rain made headlines thanks to pastor Wang Yi, who defiantly remained steadfast in his faith despite being detained last year. Yi particularly annoyed the communist powers that be by doing things such as holding annual prayer services to remind people about Tiennamen Square, despite the governments best efforts to effectively remove that event from existence.
Liao’s daughter (Ren) explained that Early Rain members had to report their location to authorities while making thinly veiled threats.
“That’s when I knew it was no longer safe for us here, and that my children were most in danger,” he told AP after a recent church service.
Hundreds of Early Rain members were taken into custody in one of the higher profile crackdowns on Christianity, a religion growing exponentially in China despite efforts to stomp it out. The Chinese government feels Christians are “standing in the way” of their efforts to enact totalitarian rule.
“Liao said the police tried to force him to sign a statement renouncing his church, but he refused,” the Associated Press reported.
The Chinese government is clearly demonstrating the perils of having no faith in a higher power can do to a country. The government believes they are the ultimate authority so, naturally, anyone and any movement that teaches there is something greater than government is a threat to the status quo and to the power gov wields over the people.
This is likely why there are countless ‘re-education camps’ spread across China, holding religious minorities prisoner while brainwashing them. It sounds like something out of a bad Hollywood movie, but it’s actually happening. Look:
As for the Christian family that fled this persecution, they hope to eventually make it to America. The scary part, however, is they only have a temporary tourist visa, and could find themselves getting sent back to China.
This would clearly be an unfavorable outcome, as they’ve already spoken out about the horrors unfolding currently in China. They’ll need to convince the government of Taiwan (or America) that they need asylum from religious persecution.
But even a move to America would be, in their most hopeful outcome, only temporary. Ren explained to AP that she’d ultimately love to come back to China – when it’s free.
“One day when China opens up, we’ll go back,” she said. “Whether it’s five years, or even 10 years, we’ll eventually make our way back to where God wants us to serve.”