Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
China Arrests Church Leaders in Growing Crackdown on Underground Christians
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
BEIJING (Worthy News) – Chinese authorities have detained Protestant church leaders and demolished church property as part of a “widening crackdown on underground churches” that refuse to align with Communist Party ideology, Christian sources say.
The Early Rain Covenant Church said police raided homes and its church office in the southwestern city of Chengdu on Tuesday, capturing nine members, including senior leaders. Five were later released, but four remained in custody, the church said.
Among those still detained were church leader Li Yingqiang and his wife, Zhang Xinyue, according to church officials, who said the arrests appeared to be part of a coordinated operation. Authorities have not publicly disclosed charges.
CHURCH DEMOLITION, POLICE DEPLOYMENT
Additionally, more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away in the eastern city of Wenzhou, authorities began demolishing part of the Yayang Church building, video obtained by advocacy group ChinaAid showed.
ChinaAid said hundreds of armed and special police officers were deployed around the church, with residents ordered to leave the area and warned not to photograph or record the operation.
Wenzhou — sometimes called “China’s Jerusalem” because of its large Christian population — has seen repeated church closures and arrests in recent years.
OFFICIAL SILENCE, GROWING CONCERN
China’s government has not commented publicly on the arrests or demolitions.
Yet Christian advocacy groups say the latest actions reflect tightening controls under President Xi Jinping, who has pushed the policy of “Sinicisation of religion,” requiring faith groups to conform to Communist Party values.
The government says China has about 44 million Christians, but experts believe tens of millions more worship in unregistered house churches. Some sources estimate the total number of Christians at 130 million or more.
FACING YEARS OF PRESSURE
The Early Rain Covenant Church has faced sustained pressure since 2018, when authorities detained its founder, Pastor Wang Yi, and later sentenced him to prison on charges including “inciting subversion of state power.” He is due for release in 2027.
In recent months, rights groups say arrests of pastors and church members have increased, alongside new regulations restricting online preaching, youth religious activities, and fundraising unless conducted on state-approved platforms.
Christian watchdog groups said several additional church members remain unaccounted for, and fear further arrests could follow. Advocacy groups, including Open Doors and Human Rights Watch, have urged governments to press Beijing to release detained believers and uphold religious freedom commitments.
China’s foreign ministry has insisted that citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief, while stressing that religious activities must comply with Chinese law.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, citing the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, failure to implement meaningful reforms, and what U.S. officials described as undue political influence by member states.
The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying warships have entered the Middle East, according to U.S. officials, significantly expanding President Donald Trump’s military options as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.
Seven people died and a crew member survived with serious injuries when a private plane crashed while taking off at Bangor International Airport in the U.S. state of Maine, as steady snowfall from a massive winter storm swept across the region, aviation officials said Monday.
Mexico was mourning Monday after gunmen opened fire at a soccer field in the central city of Salamanca, killing at least 11 people and wounding a dozen others in the latest mass attack linked to organized crime violence.
Authorities in Pakistan have detained two prominent human rights lawyers known for defending people accused of blasphemy against Islam and exposing what supporters describe as a “blasphemy business” network, sources told Worthy News.
British police have banned a “Walk with Jesus” march through a predominantly Muslim part of London, citing concerns it could lead to “violence and serious disorder.”
An Irish Christian teacher has been jailed again for appearing at a central Ireland school despite being dismissed over “misgendering” a transgender student.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com