Gu was removed from his post as senior pastor of Chongyi Church in Hangzhou and detained last month, but his arrest was only made official on Saturday.
He has been charged with ‘embezzlement’. But his family believe he has been arrested because he has spoken out against the authorities’ ongoing campaign to remove crosses and demolish churches.
Gu’s church is China’s largest Three-Self Patriotic Movement church, which is state sanctioned. His wife was detained with him in January but has since been released.
Meanwhile, Zhejiang officials’ campaign of persecution is entering its third year. On January 28, more than 100 officials broke into two churches simultaneously – Shangye Village Church in Rui’an, Wenzhou, and Funan Church in Jiaxing – and pulled down their crosses.
Release partner China Aid now puts the total number of crosses demolished at 1,800, including 18 since the start of this year.
- Pray that Pastor Gu and his family will have a strong sense of God’s peace and His presence.
- Pray for an end to Zhejiang officials’ cross removal and church demolition campaign.
- Pray that, despite the removal of Christian symbols, churches in Zhejiang will shine bright with the love of God and impact their communities, for His glory.