A worship service at a well-known church in Jiangyou, a city in southwestern China, was interrupted on Sunday by dozens of police officers. According to the congregation, two senior church members remain detained.
Videos shared on the church’s Telegram channel show the raid at the Sichuan Province church, located approximately 100 miles north of Chengdu. The administrator for the account, seemingly outside China, reported that witnesses saw 60 to 70 personnel from various agencies including local police, Religious Affairs Bureau officials, and state security officers involved in the action.
During the raid, officers surrounded the congregation, which included young children. Despite the interruption, members continued singing a hymn. Thirty-one congregants were taken to a detention center for questioning. Officials attempted to coerce signed statements without prior disclosure of the content, but most members resisted, as stated on the Telegram channel.
By late evening, the majority of detainees were released. Nevertheless, two church elders, Yan Hong and Wu Wuqing, remained in custody. Newsweek contacted China’s National Religious Affairs Administration for comment but received no immediate response.
The Chinese General Social Survey, conducted by Renmin University, estimates that 1 to 2 percent of Chinese adults identify as Christian. While Christianity is not outlawed, China’s government enforces strict controls on religious activites. Worship outside state-approved venues is restricted, and religious institutions must be officially registered. Groups face stringent oversight on teaching, publishing, and online activities.
On Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry defended its religious policies amidst foreign criticism. Spokesperson Lin Jian stated, “The Chinese government manages religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects people’s freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities.” Lin emphasized opposition to what he termed “interference in China’s internal affairs” under religious pretenses.
The Early Rain Covenant Church exemplifies the challenges faced by unregistered Christian groups in China amidst increasing crackdowns on unauthorized religious gatherings. The church was previously targeted in December 2018, when its founding pastor Wang Yi and over 100 members were detained. Wang Yi was sentenced to nine years for charges including “inciting subversion of state power.” He had refused to register the church with the state and openly criticized President Xi Jinping’s efforts to align religious practices with Communist Party ideologies.
The recent raid highlights ongoing actions against unregistered churches, including a nationwide crackdown on the Zion Church network of house churches.