By Stoyan Zaimov
A U.S. religious rights group said that China’s recent demolition of Sanjiang Christian Church in Zhejiang province is evidence that the government is trying to stop the rapid growth of Christianity in the world’s most populous nation.
“I suspect it is a well-orchestrated campaign in order to contain the rapid growth of Christianity,” said Bob Fu of the China Aid Association, according to AFP.
“The deliberate wounds will take years to heal and the remaining little trust between the Chinese government and Chinese religious communities is gone.”
Thousands of Christians have tried to protect the church from government plans to demolish it, even forming a human wall outside the building earlier in April, but authorities destroyed the church earlier this week, claiming that it violated building codes and used illegal structures.
The Protestant church cost an estimated $4.6 million to build over a six-year period in the city of Wenzhou, and was largely funded by donations from the congregation.
“We are crying inside, there is nothing more to say,” a middle-aged man who wasn’t named said following the demolition.
Read more at http://global.christianpost.com/news/chinese-govt-demolishes-4-6m-church-as-campaign-to-contain-rapidly-growing-christianity-119047/