On Sunday morning, armed officers raided Early Rain Covenant Church in Jiangyou, detaining two senior pastors and surrounded more than 30 members, including children.
The 2008‑founded church, located in Sichuan province, has been on the Chinese Communist Party’s radar for its underground activities. Its founding pastor, Wang Yi, has already served a nine‑year sentence for "inciting subversion."
During the raid, police gathered 50 officers around the ballroom. Congregants were held in police vehicles, interrogated in Jiangyou detention centre, and subjected to identity checks.
The church released footage of police demanding signatures of affidavits, which members refused. All released by 18:00. The two detained pastors, Yan Hong and Wu Wuqing, remain unaccounted. Their prior detentions were in December 2018 and January 2026 for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble."
The raid underscores the tightening grip on unregistered churches. Chinese authorities say there are 44 million Christians, but many worship in "house churches."
From one quantum timeline, the arrest could prompt diplomatic sanctions and a surge in underground organization. In a parallel timeline, international pressure may fail, and local operations may expand, further suppressing free worship.
"We see this as a stark reminder that peaceful worship remains a perceived threat," notes Bob Fu of ChinaAid.
The raid mirrors a wider pattern: last year, Zion Church leaders were rounded up across seven cities. The founder, Ezra Jin, is still in custody.
Caption: More than 30 members of the Church taken for interrogation during Sunday service.
