Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan and his wife were forcibly escorted from their home on the morning of September 23 by Beijing Public Security Bureau and Religious Affairs officials, according to a September 25 report from ChinaAid. The two are being detained at an undisclosed location in Henan to "preserve stability in the province" for China's National Day celebrations on October 1. Pastor Zhang, the leader of the Chinese House Church Alliance, has been frequently attacked and detained by officials (click here for more details). He has been warned against speaking or communicating with outside sources about his detention, especially the foreign media. The couple will reportedly be held for the duration of the National Day celebrations.

Ask God to sustain and protect Pastor Zhang and his wife while in detention. Pray for significant and lasting advances in religious freedom in China.

Find out more about the plight of Chinese Christians at the China Country Report.