Recently a church in China’s northeastern Jilin Province was forcibly demolished due to urban relocation, as the congregation protested in front of it.
Permitted to build a church of only 0.017 acres (70 square meters) by local authorities, Nanguan Church in Changchun owned the main building and other houses that occupied more than 0.24 acres.
A source said that the church did not have land-use permits for the other buildings. After the church’s negotiation with the land developer failed, the local government pulled down all the church’s properties.
Some members gathered in front of the church, holding a banner that said, “We Take a Firm Stand against Forced Demolition”. Another banner was hung on the front door that said: “As the Church is the Home of Believers, Each of Us Protects It.” A believer said that she would protect their home with her body.
There was a controversial reaction to the sad news in the Chinese Christian community. A source commented that he agreed with the "cleaning up" of churches because some were really in a mess involving complicated issues and corruption. He regarded the demolition as "God's act" to purify the churches in Changchun.
Founded in more than twenty years ago, the church saw a Sunday attendance of about 500 to 600 on average, with a membership of more than 1,000.
It is said that the church will be granted 0.017 acres of new land where a new church can be built.
