CHINA: A major Protestant church in China reports that key leaders have been taken into custody, indicating a rising crackdown on underground churches. The Early Rain Covenant Church stated that police raided homes and their church office in Chengdu, central China, leading to the detention of nine individuals, although five have since been released. Meanwhile, over 1,000 miles away in Wenzhou, authorities started tearing down the Yayang Church building, as seen in videos obtained by the non-profit organization ChinaAid, which tracks religious persecution. Christian groups believe this recent wave of arrests, following similar actions last year, highlights the Communist Party’s determination to eliminate churches that don’t fit its ideology.
- Pray for God’s protection, courage, and peace for detained pastors, church leaders, and believers facing raids, arrests, and intimidation. Ask that those in custody will experience God’s presence and that their faith will remain strong despite persecution (The Holy Bible, Hebrews 13:3).
- Pray that underground churches in China will remain united and steadfast in Christ, even as buildings are destroyed and pressure increases. Ask God to turn persecution into spiritual growth and to soften the hearts of authorities (The Holy Bible, 2 Timothy 2:9).
News Source: BBC
Image Source: Canva
