The China Aid Association (CAA) reported, Monday, the release of protestant pastor, Chu Huaiting, and three others after they were arrested at house church service in Pizhou City, Jiangsu.

"We just prayed immediately, and alerted other people to start praying," CAA president, Bob Fu, said to the Gospel Herald.

Pastor Chu was preaching to at least 30 people, 11:00am HKT Sunday, at the 5th District, Chengguang Township, when 8 policemen and a city religious affairs officer raided the house, said the Texas-based organization.

The pastor was arrested along with three leaders; Wang Chaoying, and Wang Jing and Xue Yuanling. Several church elders were allegedly beaten in the process. Police also confiscated a laptop computer and a projector.

Apparently, an individual at the scene was able to tip off CAA president, Bob Fu, with a phone call during the arrest. In a telephone interview with the Gospel Herald, Fu described the situation:

"I received a call from a contact there. When I picked up the phone, at around 1:30am CST, I can hear people shouting in the background. I heard the pastor of the church shouting to the police to stop beating the elders. Then, the contact hung up."

All four leaders were later released at around 7:30pm HKT. Though the leaders are no longer detained, Mr. Fu added, there is still concern of repercussions that may arise from the recent arrest. "We must pray for them," he said. "We'll pray that justice will be done, and that their valuable personal property be returned."

For more information on Christian persecution in China, visit the China Aid website online.