04/17/2020 China (International Christian Concern) – On April 15, a state-sanctioned church’s cross was forcibly removed by the local authorities in China’s Anhui province.
According to a video shared by Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness’ Twitter account, a crane could be seen dangling a hook on top of the cross of Feixi Sanhe Church in Hefei city. Outside of the church’s gate, there are more than a dozen of traffic police officers keeping watch of the operation.
Based on China Aid’s report, Sanhe Church is a Three-Self church recognized by the government. A local Christian said that the church is also a tourist attraction since it has more than 100 years of history.
“The government requested the person in charge of the church to remove the cross. Yet since the church refused to do so, the cross was forcibly removed,” said the Christian.
Sanhe Church was built in 1914 by American missionary. It became a Three-Self church in 1978 and a focal point for the country’s Three-Self Patriotic Movement organization.
In the past few months, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown against the Three-Self churches in Anhui province. Funan Christian Church was demolished last October, while churches in Hefei and Fuyang saw their crosses removed.
Source: ICC www.persecution.org
