More than 30 arrested in church raid in China

The crackdown on church activities in China continues with the raid of a church service in Sichuan Province. Please pray for our family in China as they come under increasing pressures, forcing many further underground.

A church in China has suffered another raid, with more than 30 members arrested during a service, including two leaders who were subsequently detained for two weeks without formal charges.   

Believers at Early Rain Covenant Church in Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province, were gathered on Sunday 14 June when dozens of police and officials arrived, requiring people to register their identities. They were then taken away in groups for questioning. Most were released the same day, except for two leaders.  

“The gatherings of the Early Rain Covenant Church have been attacked several times because the church has drawn the attention of the authorities for many years, beginning in 2019,” explains Caleb*, a country researcher who also serves persecuted believers. “In recent years, the authorities have increasingly tightened their scrutiny of all house churches across the country, which are unregistered and considered illegal by the government.” 

The revision of Religious Laws in 2019 is a key driver behind this intensifying hostility, as is the ‘Online Code of Conduct for Religious Professionals’, implemented last September, which restricts religious content online unless it is disseminated through state-approved channels. These tightened laws – together with increasingly sophisticated use of surveillance technology to monitor ‘illegality’ – are having a stifling effect on religious freedom in China. 

Mobilising the masses against Christians 

The crackdown is impacting house churches in China to varying degrees, often depending on the extent to which regional authorities are implementing religious laws. 

In some cases, believers have been detained, sentenced and fined, whilst elsewhere, the threat of repercussions is forcing believers further underground and into hiding. Whilst high-profile house churches have been targeted, often purposely to send a wider message, smaller congregations are also feeling the heavy suppression of the authorities.  

“Our area has launched reward-based reporting by the authorities,” says Jacob*, a local partner serving in central China. “One house church was reported, and the pastor has been under detention for 15 days on the charge of organising illegal gatherings. The authorities mobilised the masses to suppress house churches. At present, the churches in our area are under great pressure.” 

This particular area was once one of the earliest centres of Christian growth following China’s economic reform in the late 1970s and 1980s, contributing greatly to the spread of the gospel in China. Historically and today, such growth comes at a cost, with the authorities wanting to clamp down on what it deems a threat to their power and control.  

Under pressure and underground 

Forced further underground, many Christians become isolated, deprived of fellowship and discipleship. That’s why your prayers and support for the underground church in China, and elsewhere in places like Laos, are crucial in reminding them that they are not alone.  

“Your visits help me realise that the Lord has not forgotten me,” said Jinyi* after local partners visited her following a raid on her house church, which forced it to close.  “I am deeply grateful for your support and encouragement, which have made me feel less alone and less afraid.” 

You’re empowering believers to ‘stand firm in the faith’ (1 Corinthians 16:13) and enabling the church to continue growing, despite every effort by the authorities to suppress it. Thank you!

*Names changed for security reasons