Where is China Missionary Dennis Balcombe?

The whereabouts of American missionary to China, founder of Revival Chinese Ministries, Dennis Balcombe is unkown and family members and friends want some answers.

According to China Aid, Balcombe was "held under house arrest following a Saturday raid on a house church meeting" in Nanyang.

Apparently 70 Christians had gathered for a three-day revival meeting when government agents stormed into the room and began videotaping the service. China Aid says attendees were fingerprinted, interrogated, and required to sign police documents.

Local church leaders say when they left the scene, Balcombe and several of his co-workers were still being held by police.

Balcombe is no stranger to this type of treatment by Chinese authorities. He's served as a missionary to the Chinese people since the late 1960s and has been arrested numerous times simply for sharing Jesus with the spiritually hungry.

I first met Pastor Balcombe in Washington, D.C., after one such arrest more than 20 years ago. I admired his love for the Chinese people and his commitment to serving them despite the risks to his personal safety. I'm sure he would say this arrest is just another distraction from doing God's work in China.

Pray for his safety, and ask that God will raise up more bold missionaries like Dennis Balcombe to serve the people of China. Pray that the Chinese government will not view Christians as a threat to society. I'm sure some believers are already helping victims of the recent earthquake in Lushan.

View this video to learn more about Revival Chinese Ministries and Dennis Balcombe: