Outdoor church services to encourage persecuted Christians

Release International is inviting churches to hold an open-air service next month in solidarity with Christians around the world who are forced to meet outside because of state interference.

Christians in parts of China, Indonesia and central Asia have been barred from meeting indoors because their church buildings were closed down by the authorities.

Shouwang Church, one of Beijing’s largest house churches, has been meeting outside for a year after the authorities refused to register the church. Churchgoers are routinely arrested as they hold services outside.

A church spokesman said: "Even though we’ve been through months of battles and are feeling tired in body and soul, our desire to worship God is unchanged." Read more