TIANJIN, CHINA (ANS) -- Chinese authorities have abolished the Immanuel Church in Tinajin and banned Pastor Han Changxu, an ethnic Korean, from serving there.

According to ChinaAid (www.chinaaid.org), on May 16, 2009, the Office for Religious Affairs in Jinghai county, Tianjin issued a notice abolishing the church and banning its pastor from serving in the church.

Pastor Han Changxu (Courtesy ChinaAid)

ChinaAid says Pastor Han Changxu, a native of Heilongjiang province, was ordained as a pastor by the Presbyterian Church in 2008. He has been serving in Immanuel Church in Jinghai county, Tianjin since 2004. During the 2008 Olympics, authorities in Tianjin placed Pastor Han on surveillance when they discovered he had contacts with missionaries from South Korea. In a media release, ChinaAid says Chinese authorities in Jinghai County of Tianjin have tried to prevent Pastor Han Changxu from having contact with churches in South Korea.

The Office of Religious Affairs notice abolishing Immanuel Church and banning Pastor Han Changxu from serving there. (Courtesy ChinaAid)

ChinaAid said: "In March of this year a Christian brother from South Korea attended a Sunday service at Immanuel Church, was detained by the Publicsecurity bureau (PSB) officers and subsequently expelled from China. Afterwards, authorities began to persecute the church and the pastors from both China and South Korea.

"ChinaAid strongly denounces the relevant authorities in Jinghai County of Tianjin for their illegal action of persecuting freedom of belief. ChinaAid urges authorities in Jinghai County of Tianjin to restore Immanuel Church and restore freedom to Pastor Han Changxu to serve the church and to the believers to worship God," the ministry says in its media statement.

Contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. to on behalf of Pastor Han Changxu and Immanuel Church:

Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760
(or embassies/consultes of your own countries)

Please contact: Katherine@ChinaAid.org with questions or requests for further information.