More than 30 pastors, ministers and Christian leaders have been detained, or placed under house arrest in the latest crackdown on churches in China.
Release International partners report simultaneous raids across seven provinces this month, targeting dozens of unregistered congregations. Those arrested include Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of the influential Zion Church network.
‘Today, we are witnessing the most extensive and coordinated wave of persecution against urban independent house churches in China in over four decades,’ our partners said, adding that the government’s actions are ‘a stark reminder that the Chinese Communist Party remains determined to eradicate any form of independent civil faith community that does not submit to state control.’
According to the BBC, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that ‘this crackdown further demonstrates how the CCP [the Chinese Communist Party] exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference in their faith and choose to worship at unregistered house churches.’ Former US vice-president Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have also released statements on ‘X’, condemning the arrests.
Pastor Jin Mingri started Zion Church in 2007. Its network is now said to include some 10,000 people in 40 cities across China, making it one of the largest underground church networks in the country. Many of its congregations have been investigated. Pastor Jin’s family have already relocated to the US for safety, while he remained in China to continue his pastoral work. The authorities have allegedly barred him from leaving the country.
Release International’s partner added, ‘This new nationwide campaign echoes the darkest days of the 1980s, when urban churches first emerged from the Cultural Revolution. Yet, unlike four decades ago, today’s persecution is aided by digital surveillance, nationwide coordination, and “fraud” charges manipulated to criminalise peaceful worship.’
Our partner urged Christians around the world to stand in prayer and solidarity ‘with our suffering brothers and sisters in China, remembering those in chains as though we were bound with them (Hebrews 13:3).’
(Sources: Release International partner; BBC News)
