秋雨之福教会 致成都众教会和华人教会的代祷信 Pray for this Persecuted Church

秋雨之福教会 致成都众教会和华人教会的代祷信

主基督在成都的秋雨之福教会，蒙召传道的王怡弟兄执笔、并代全体同工及委身教会的61名会友，向成都的众家庭教会，及海内外华人教会众牧长和众圣徒问安。为着当地民政局对我们作出“取缔未经登记的非法组织”的行政处罚决定一事，并因着我们如同一人、为主战兢的心，恳求你们的代祷与守望。

我们持守家庭教会的立场和归正信仰的立场，遵循长老会的教会治理模式，追随以地方教会建造为中心、以此逐步推动家庭教会的公开化和合法化存在的异象。从2008年8月开始，教会以同工黄维才姊妹的名义，在成都文庙西街1号6楼租下几间办公室，作为非营业场所，走出家庭住宅，为秋雨之福教会提供主日及周间聚会的场所。目前出席主日崇拜的信徒和慕道友在100-120人之间。

2009年6月4日前后，我们的聚会受到政府以消防整改名义的干扰。我们以顺服的态度，主动取消了6月4日前后的祷告会，电影观摩会等周间聚会。

6月7日上午的主日崇拜被街道办执法人员打断，我们要求出具书面行政决定。随后，街道办以“综治办”的名义出具了致“秋雨之福”要求“消防整改”的通知书。我们对此表示感谢，因为这的确提醒了我们注意消防隐患。6月12日，王怡和黄维才前往街道办综合治理办公室，说明我们的整改情况，并请求综治办前往检查，为我们安排消防演习，帮助我们提高消防意识和能力。

但政府并未回应我们的整改和请求，也未再次检查消防情况。 6月14日的主日崇拜，弟兄姊妹受到政府人员强行拦阻，禁止上楼出席崇拜。我们认为这是严重滥用职权的非法行政行为，于是报警，通知了110。并照着主的教导，我们当在行为上顺服，因此退出了办公室，前往南河边空地，举行露天的主日崇拜。 6月19日，王怡前往街道办，递交了我们消防整改的说明，和对政府非法行政行为的举报及法律意见。表达了我们一直保持克制和沉默的立场和原因，希望得到政府的良好回应和对话。
6月21日上午的主日崇拜，弟兄姊妹再次受到联防治保人员拒不出示证件的强行拦阻，我们连续两次向110报警，在他们无法干预的情况下，我们保持克制，离开聚会点，转移到附近一间茶馆。街道办及警方随即赶来，威胁老板，使聚会进行到一半，再次被迫离开。我们继续转移到河边，举行露天崇拜。

6月21日下午，是我们预备了近一年的第一次会友大会。之前，有61位信徒明确对教会的委身，成为领餐的会友。由预备同工和信徒代表组成的选立小组，提名三名长老候选人、四名执事候选人，将由全体出席会友投票，以选立的方式，呼召主在我们中间拣选的长执。我们并邀请了数间本地家庭教会的同工，出席、见证和祝福。

6月21日中午，执法人员继续拦阻我们进入聚会点。我们转移到预先租下的一间酒店的会议室，召开会友大会。年度教会建造汇报和财务汇报尚未结束时，十几名执法人员进入现场，中止了聚会。由成都青羊区民政局的执法人员黄伟，宣读了致“秋雨之福教会”的《行政处罚决定书》，以国务院《社会团体登记管理办法》第35条为依据，对我们作为“未经登记的社会团体”，予以取缔，没收非法财产。

我们预备转移到河边，继续完成投票。但酒店内外，已布满不下百人的防暴警察、便衣和执法人员。为避免冲突，我们决定解散，推迟会友大会的投票。

当晚，预备长执会召集会议，祷告，交通，寻求神的带领。我们特别为下面的几点感恩：

1、作为一间主基督的教会，我们的名字“秋雨之福教会”第一次出现在政府的法律文件上。神的智慧测不透，神的幽默也是我们患难中的帮助。在我们决定起诉后，“秋雨之福教会”将在法律上成为名正言顺的原告。神借着政府的作为，使我们面对政府时，将不再以同工个人名义，而从此在法律上以一间被取缔的家庭教会的名义出现。我们感谢主，这已然是一个得胜的标志。

2、经过近两年来的遭遇，我们看见，打压城市家庭教会的执法部门，发生着重大的转变，即从有枪的公安局出面，变为没枪的宗教局出面，再变为与宗教管理无关的民政局出面。从法律依据上，我们也经历了由《治安管理法》，转为《宗教事务条例》，转到《消防法》，再转到《社团登记管理条例》的过程。这表明政府正在用尽一切法律手段，来尝试对家庭教会的处理方式。而整个的趋势仍然是去政治化、去宗教化。为此感谢主。

3、在数次打压颠沛之中，有主基督里的安息与我们同在，经过两周主日崇拜的拦阻逼迫，仍有超过100位信徒和慕道友，包括许多第一次参加教会聚会的朋友，在河边出席露天崇拜。21日下午，在一整天的紧张压力下，除外出请假的几位会友，仍有50多位会友到场，预备参加投票。神要存留、建造和使用的，就是那些经火炼过的圣约的子民。我们为在这艰难时期，立志登记委身教会的61名会友感谢神。

由民政部门出面，根据《社团登记管理条例》，公开宣布取缔一间家庭教会。据我们所知，这是国内的第一个案例。我们不知道这是否会成为其他城市效法的、一种新的打压方式，或是否代表着政府对城市家庭教会的态度，已转向恶化。

但当我们被宣布“取缔”时，作为此时此地、大公教会之彰显的一间地方教会，我们已退无可退。坚持主日崇拜，坚持神的儿女聚集敬拜神的权利，是我们无法放弃的长子名分。

我们全体预备长执，在主基督耶稣、也在成都众教会及普世华人教会众圣徒的面前定意，决心持守职分，护卫群羊；主若许可，叫我们直到被捕入狱，也不丢弃圣职。我们决定，

1、 不主动退回家庭。而以各种方式、地点，坚持全体信徒的主日崇拜；

2、 向成都市政府提起不服行政处罚决定的行政复议，行政诉讼，以顺服法律的态度，走完世俗法律的程序；

3、 预备向成都市民政局，依法公开申请注册教会，以顺服法律的态度，走完注册登记的程序；

4、 当上述法律程序的结果，无法给我们的聚会以“合法性”时，我们将遵循和援引《宪法》的“宗教信仰自由”条款，选择良性违法，以非暴力方式拒绝地方政府的任何决定，坚持聚会。


当民政执法人员进入会友大会现场时，一位预备长老正作财务报告，他看见他们，但一直继续汇报，直到被打断。他说，以前在电影中看见军队闯入教堂，牧者站在台上继续宣讲，直到一支标枪扔过来。他说，虽然我们的生命、神学、牧养，服事主的经历，都远远不如成都众教会，但那个镜头，就是我心中持守职分的榜样。一位同工说，以前看见家庭教会脱敏化、公开化的文章，心里想的是，若有其他教会站出来，多努力，我们就可以一起分享美好的结果。却没想到，我们这么弱小的一间教会，神就这样把我们放在了退无可退的风口浪尖上。

我们缺乏智慧，也依然软弱。我们虽如此定意，却无法靠着自己持守。我们里面也仍有血气、胆怯、忧愁和小信，我们不知明天如何，神的下一步棋是什么。我们也不知道政府的打压会减缓，还是继续升级；我们不知道这一事件对我们、对本地教会，对政府打压或调整对家庭教会态度的格局，会有多大影响。我们不能做主的谋士，只能做主的信徒。我们不知道未来的处境，甚至不知道神在特定事件中的心意。我们只知道神不变的良善、全能和慈爱，以及主在救恩历史中已显明的永恒旨意。

我们盼望从成都众教会那里，得到祷告的支持。愿你们常用祷告托起在你们中间这一群弱小的肢体，为我们和我们的家人祷告。求主那必成就的心意，每天向我们显明。

我们盼望有负担的国内家庭教会和海外华人教会，为我们的回应能满有神的智慧、能力、和平和祝福而祷告，为由民政部门出面“取缔”家庭教会这一事件和未来的趋势恒切祷告。愿我们能从你们那里得到劝勉、安慰和帮助。

愿我们这些小子们，能靠主恩典，不羞辱主的名。愿荣耀颂赞归于圣父、圣子、圣灵独一的真神。

Prayer Request from early rain reformed church to Churches
in Chengdu and Overseas Chinese Churches


Wang Yi, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to preach the Word through the Lord’s early rain reformed church in Chengdu, on behalf of all co-workers and 61 church members committed to the church is writing to all house churches in Chengdu and all elders, pastors, and saints: Peace be to you all and we ask you to pray and watch out for us for the Administrative Penalty Decision of “Banning unregistered Illegal Organization” by the local Civil Affair Authority to us, as we are one with a heart quavering for the Lord.

We uphold the stance of house church and Reformation Faith, keeping administrative model of Presbyterian churches, following the vision of focusing local church building and gradually pushing forward the go-public and legalized existence of house churches. In August 2008, the church, under the name of a co-worker, Sister Huang Weicai, rented several office rooms on the 6th floor of No.1 Wenmiaoxijie Street in Chengdu as non-business site to be the place where early rain reformed church has congregations and services. Currently, there are 100-120 believers and truth seekers attending the Lord-Day worshipping services.

Before and after 4th June, 2009, our assembly was interfered by the government in the name of fire preventing intervention. We submitted and canceled prayer meetings before and after 4th of June and some other week-days meetings.

In the morning of 7th June, the Lord-Day worshiping was interrupted by law enforcers of Street Affair Office. We requested them to present written administrative warrant. Consequently, the Street Affair Office issued a notice to “early rain reformed church”, demanding “Fire Prevention Improvements and Rectifications” under the name of “Comprehensive Rectification Office”. We showed gratitude for this as it did remind us of fire potentials. On 12th, June, Wang Yi and Huang Weicai went to the Comprehensive Rectification Office of Street Affair Office, explaining the details of our improvements and rectifications concerning fire prevention and asking the Comprehensive Rectification Office to inspect again, and arrange fire drills for us in light of improved fire awareness and coping ability.

But the government did not respond to our rectifications and requests. Neither did they inspect the fire prevention condition.

On 14th June, the worshiping was broken up by force by the government personnel. Brothers and sisters were prohibited physically to go upstairs to attend the worshipping service. We consider this illegal administrative action as serious breach of privilege and we called police. As taught by the Lord to be submissive in action, we withdrew from our office to go to an open ground near the river to have the Lord-Day worship.

On 19th, June, Wang Yi went to the Street Affairs Office and submitted the explanations of our fire prevention rectifications and he also reported the illegal administrative actions of the government and his legal opinions. We expressed our stance and the reason of our refraining and silence, in hope of decent response and dialogue from the government.

On 21st of June, the Lord-day worship was interrupted again. Brothers and sisters were forcedly blocked by government-employed personnel who refused to show any papers or cards of identity. We called 110 for police twice. The police was unable to intervene and we kept patient and left the place. We relocated to a nearby tea house. After that, the Street Affair Office and Police came. They threatened the tea house owner and we were force to go in the middle of the worship again. We continued the worship to the riverside to finish the service under the sky.

In the afternoon of 21st of June, we were supposed to have the first church member congregation that we had planned for almost one year. Before that, 61 confessing and committed believers had become our church members. The election team, consisting of representatives of preparative co-workers and believers, had nominated three candidates of elders and four candidates of deacons, whom would be voted into post by the whole congregation and in this way the elders and deacons, elected by the Lord, would be chosen and established. We also invited some co-workers from other house churches in Chengdu to participate, to witness and to bless us.

At the noon of 21st of June, the government-employed personnel continued blocking our entry into meeting place. We relocated to a conference room in a hotel to have the church member congregation. We had hardly finished our annual report on church building and finance accounting when more than ten law enforcer entered the site and stopped the congregation. Huang Wei, one law enforcer from the Civil Affairs Office of Chengdu Qingyang District, announced the to “Autumn Blessings Church”. They banned us as “unregistered social group” and confiscated our illegal properties according to the article 35 of , issued by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

We planned to move to the riverside to finish the vote. But there were more than one hundred riot policemen and non-uniform law enforcers in and out of the hotel. We decide to dismiss ourselves, postponing the voting to prevent collision.

In the evening of that night, the preparatory elders and deacons convened for guidance of God in prayers and communications. We were especially thankful for the following points:
1. As a church in the Lord Jesus Christ, our name: ”Autumn Blessings” for the first time appeared on a legal paper of the government. God’s wisdom is beyond our understanding and God’s humor is our help in difficulties. After we decide to sue, “Autumn Blessing” will become the lawful plaintiff. God has used the government to help us. In the future, whenever we confront the government, we will be able to appear not as individual workers, but as a legally banned house church. We thank God for this triumphant sign.

2. After what we have experienced in the past two years, we have seen a major shift of the law enforcing entities deployed to suppress house churches. At first they were gun-equipped policemen, and later the religious bureau without guns, and now it is the civil affairs bureau that ostensibly not related to religious affairs. As to the legal basis, we also experienced the process from , to , then to . It shows that the government is trying all possible lawful measures to deal with house churches. Still, the tendency is de-political and de-religious. We thank God for that.

3. In all these suppressions and setbacks, the peace in the Lord Christ never left us. After two Lord-Day worship services being blocked and persecuted, we still had over one hundred believers and truth seekers, including many friends coming for the first time to church meeting, to participate with us the open-air service by the river. In the afternoon of 21st of June, after the whole day’s tension, there were still over 50 church members present and ready to vote, except several members who had asked for leave. They are the ones God set apart and use to build—children of the holy covenant refined and tempered by fire. We thank God for these 61 church members who are determined to commit themselves to the church at this difficult moment.
As much as we know, it is the first house church banned publicly by the civil affair authority according to the . We do not know whether it is a new way of suppression that other cities may learn to practice, or whether it is a sign of government’s deteriorating attitude toward house church.

However, we have nowhere to retreat as a local manifestation of the universal Church of Christ here and now when we were announced “banned”. We cannot give up our first-born-son-ship to insist our right to have Lord-Day worship and to worship God as children of God.

All the preparatory elders and deacons of our church, in Jesus Christ and before all churches in Chengdu and all saints of universal Chinese churches, are determined to uphold our posts to protect the herd. If the Lord is willing, let us not give up the holy work until we are arrested into prison. We decide that:

1、 We will not retreat home by ourselves. We will insist the Lord Day Worship by all believers by all means and at all locations.
2、 Present our administrative reconsideration and administrative litigation of Non-compliance to administrative penalty decision to Chengdu Municipal Government. We are going to finish all secular law procedures with a submissive attitude.
3、 We are preparing to apply openly and legally for registration of church to Chengdu Civil Affair Bureau. We are going to finish registration procedures submissively.
4、 When the abovementioned legal procedures do not result in legitimacy of our meetings, we will observe and quote the article of “Religious Freedom” in Constitution, choosing benign breaching and insisting on regular worshiping and meetings, rejecting non-violently any decision by local government.

When the law enforcers of the civil affair bureau broke into the meeting, one preparatory elder was giving the financial report. After seeing them, he continued his report until interrupted. He said that he had watched a movie where a pastor continued his sermon after soldiers had broken into the church until a spear was cast. He said, “although our life, theology, pasturing, and service are far less than other churches in Chengdu, but that daring pastor is my model of being faithful to the work”. One co-worker said, “I read many papers about house church de-sensitization and going-public. When I read them, I thought we might have a beautiful future if more churches stand out and work hard. But I never thought a small and weak church like ours might be put to the frontline by the Lord where we have no place to retreat.”

We lack wisdom. We are still infirm. Determined we are, we cannot hold long by ourselves. We still have things from the flesh, intimidation, worries and little faith. We do not know what tomorrow will unfold. We do not know the next step of God. We do not know what impact this incident will have onto local churches. We do not know what the government will do or their attitude will be. We can not be counselor for the Lord but we are only believers of Jesus. We do not know what future we have. We do not even know God’s will in this particular event. We only know that God is immutable in His benevolence, omnipotence, and love and His eternal purpose that has been revealed by His grace through history.

We hope to be supported by prayers of churches in Chengdu. Please hold us in prayers constantly as a weak body among you. Pray for us and for our families. Pray that the Lord’s will, that must be accomplished, be revealed to us every day.
We hope all churches in China and abroad, burdened by us, to pray for Godly wisdom, might, peace and blessings of our response. Be persistent in prayers of the incident and future tendency of banning house church by the civil affair authority. May we be advised, comforted, and helped by you all.
May we little ones by the Lord’s grace not insult the Lord’s name. May all glory, praises be unto the Father, the Son and the Spirit, the only true God.

A.D. 2009-6-22