Source:                   www.ChinaAid.org

Date:                        May 16, 2022

 

Brother Xiao Luobiao took a picture in front of the police station after he was summoned on October 18, 2021
(Photo: ChinaAid)

 

 

(Chengdu, Sichuan Province—May 16, 2022) May 12 was the 14th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake. When several Christian families’ teenage children were studying in a Christian’s house at around 10 am, suddenly police officers visited them and asked the teenagers to go home. Christian Xiao Luobiao was taken to the local police station. 

 

Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu sent out a prayer request letter past 10 AM. The church asked fellow Christians to pray for God to protect the teenagers on their way back home and protect Brother Xiao Luobiao. Brother Xiao was released at about 2 pm. He sent the following message to brothers and sisters of the church: 

 

Thank you, God. I have been released from the police station. It was easy this time. I was only asked to give a statement. They allowed me to leave at 2 pm. Thank you for your prayers. 

 

Since the massive crackdown that happened on December 9, 2018, members of Early Rain have been suffering long-term surveillance. Xiao Luobiao has been summoned to the local police station several times. His wife Chen Yan and two children were also followed, harassed, and threatened. His wife reported the problem to the police several times. She also wrote a series of diaries about the fight for her rights.  

 

On October 18, 2020, Brother Xiao Luobiao attended the Sunday Service and drew local police attention. He was taken away by police on the evening of October 20. He was released after midnight.  

 

On the morning of October 25, 2020, police officers and staff of the Religious Affairs Bureau came to his home when he was attending online worship. They forced him to stop worshipping and turn off his computer. It was unacceptable for him.  

 

He questioned them, “I’m just worshiping God at home. I didn’t bother anyone or cause any trouble. Why can’t I do it? You are the ones causing trouble.” His wife Chen Yan asked, ”Is online worshipping illegal?” They told her that online worship was illegal. Then they summoned Brother Xiao to the police station. He was held there until 3 PM, reciting 1 Peter 3:17.  

 

On Christmas Eve 2020, police officers from Chengdu City Funan Police Station broke into Xiao Luobiao’s home without any warning, stopping him from attending the church’s Christmas Eve virtual service. Chen Yan took photos of the officers using her cell phone legally, which resulted in police violence. Xiao Luobiao reminded them that Chen Yan was pregnant, so the police stopped but grabbed Chen Yan’s cell phone, demanding she deletes the photos she had taken. Their two children watched the entire altercation. 

 

Police summoned Xiao Luobiao was summoned to the police station last October for six hours. He had three children at that time. The oldest was only six years old and the youngest was not even one year old. His wife Chen Yan received a summon notice that evening. The summon stated:  

 

Per Law of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) on Public Security Administration Article 82, our unit summoned Xiao Luobiao who is suspected of organizing an evil cult to Honglou Police Station for interrogation on October 18, 2021, at 5 PM. 

 

He didn’t get back home until 10:40 pm. 

 

~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter 

 

 

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