Chinese police raid Chengdu house church, arrest 4 leaders

On September 1, nearly 60 members of an underground church in Chengdu gathered for their regular Sunday worship when Chinese police raided the venue. The police, numbering over 30 from the Public Security Bureau and local police station, arrived around 8:50 a.m., detaining four church leaders shortly after the service began. Despite the police intervention, worship continued with hymns, prayers, and Bible readings led by the remaining leaders. The detained leaders, identified as Li, Wu, Yan, and Zeng, were taken into custody at different times during the service. Worshippers remained undeterred, continuing their observance and even shifting to an online service to complete their worship. Those locked out were eventually forced to leave but sought alternative locations to continue their gathering. The raid is part of a broader crackdown on religious groups in China, particularly targeting underground churches that operate outside the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Early Rain Covenant Church, to which this congregation belongs, has faced significant persecution, including the arrest of its pastor, Wang Yi, in 2019. Reports indicate that the families of the detained leaders have been instructed to prepare medications for them, suggesting they may face extended detention. The ongoing oppression of Christians in China has led to widespread fear and uncertainty, with many churches experiencing similar raids and arrests, highlighting the regime's intolerance towards religious practices not sanctioned by the state.