Christian Shoe Factory in Wenzhou Destroyed After Owners Refuse to Build Buddhist Temple

Zhejiang, China: December 06, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

On Monday, November 23, Shao Wangui, leader of a local House Church in Wenzhou, was arbitrarily detained without warrant. He was released from detention on November 30, marking a brief reprieve from persecution, after Shao's company factory, Xinba Shoes Co. Ltd., was destroyed in late November, for his refusal to contribute to a Buddhist building project.

Shao Wangui and his brother have operated the Xinba Shoes Co. Ltd factory in Xianyan County, Wenzhou City, for many years. The conflict with local authorities ensued when the two Christian brothers refused to pay a fee that would support the building of a Buddhist Temple in the middle of their village.

In November, the villagers came to the brothers' factory and insisted that they donate to their cause in support of building a new Buddhist temple.  Because of his beliefs, Shao Wangui refused to do so because he felt it conflicted with his faith and his calling to lead the local house church.  He further asked his church members not to donate money for the project, as he believed they could not allow having a Buddhism temple built on the way to the church. The village secretary became furious when he learned that the local house church had refused to participate in the fund-raising campaign, and began initiating the mistreatment of the known Christians in the community.

Local "vandals" destroyed the Xinba Shoes Factory as punishment for the brothers' and their church's refusal to participate--a common and brutal action taken against those who oppose government-imposed norms. Thousands of dollars worth of property and equipment were damaged or lost in the factory's demolition. After the attack, one of the factory partners was injured and then illegally detained at the local police station for over 48 hours.

The two brothers ask Christians from all over the world to pray for them and to call for the repentance of the local government.

News source: www.chinaaid.org