Chinese authorities have detained two leaders of the influential Early Rain Covenant Church following a coordinated raid in Jiangyou, a city in the southwest of the country. The operation occurred while congregants were mid-service on Sunday, involving a significant deployment of armed police. According to a statement released by the church on Monday, leaders Yan Hong and Wu Wuqing were taken into custody amidst the chaotic interruption of their worship.
Founded in 2008 in Chengdu, the Early Rain Covenant Church has long operated under intense scrutiny by the Chinese Communist Party. The group’s founding pastor, Wang Yi, remains incarcerated, currently serving a nine-year sentence for allegedly inciting subversion of state power and engaging in illegal business operations. The latest raid saw approximately fifty officers, including members of a Special Weapons and Tactical Unit, storm the hotel ballroom where the congregation had gathered for their weekly service.
More than thirty members were forcibly removed from the site and transported to the Jiangyou detention center for interrogation. Footage shared by the church shows congregants singing hymns while plainclothes officers attempted to halt the service. The remaining attendees, including children and the elderly, were confined to the room and subjected to mandatory identification checks. Reports suggest that authorities pressured congregants to sign an affidavit, the contents of which remain undisclosed, but the group refused and were released later that evening.
The broader context of this raid highlights the increasing pressure on unofficial religious groups in China. The government mandates that Christians participate only in state-sanctioned religious institutions led by approved pastors. However, many continue to practice in underground or house churches. Official data from 2018 estimated 44 million Christians in China, though this figure excludes those in unregulated communities. Recent trends indicate that the state`s grip on such organizations is tightening, with detentions and interrogations becoming more frequent occurrences.
While most of the detained congregants were released by Sunday night, the continued detention of Yan Hong and Wu Wuqing signals that local authorities remain focused on disrupting the church’s leadership structure. The lack of clear charges against the two preachers underscores the vulnerability of house church members in the current political climate. As the government continues its campaign to ensure all religious activities align with state regulations, the status of organizations like the Early Rain Covenant Church remains increasingly precarious.
