"Pastor Hua Huiqi was attacked by the PSB," one of China’s main law enforcement agencies, "on October 11," former house church leader Bob Fu told BosNewsLife. Fu, who now leads Christian rights group China Aid Association (CAA), said the pastor was "beaten until he was unconscious."
After the beating, "he was sent to Beijing Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Hospital…" However, he only "woke up from unconsciousness [early Sunday] October 14," said Fu, who has close contact with the pastor.
Despite the apparent mistreatment, "the pastor told me ‘whether I live or die, it doesn’t matter. As long as Christ shines on me and the Gospel and Christ’s love is spread,’" Fu said.
MANY POLICE OFFICERS
Fu explained that he had talked with the evangelical pastor and his wife, however "more than two dozen police disguised as doctors are surrounding his hospital room in order to prevent visitation and pictures."
News of the latest attack comes after several rights groups said they noticed a crackdown by Chinese authorities on evangelical Christians and house churches ahead of next years Olympic Games. CAA and other organizations have linked the actions to fears within the Communist leadership about the spread of Christianity in China and possible plans by Christian missionaries to spread the Gospel during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Some Chinese officials are on record as saying there are an estimated 130 million Christians in China, more than previously thought. Chinese authorities have strongly denied reports of wrongdoing and claim Chinese Christians are free to worship within official denominations. However most Christians prefer to worship outside state control, church watchers say.
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