(Chengdu, Sichuan province – 10/22/2024) On October 17, 2024, Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church revealed that their pastor Wu Wuqing is again facing a new round of forced relocation by the Wenjiang District police in Chengdu. This is one of many instances of water and electricity being cut off and forced relocations since the church crackdown on December 9, 2018. The previous water and electricity cut-off occurred just before the National Day holiday on October 1.

Disruption of Utilities at Pastor Wu’s home

On the afternoon of October 16, Pastor Wu Wuqing discovered that his home’s water supply had suddenly been cut off. Upon inspection, he found that the water valve controlling his home’s water meter had been turned off. Pastor Wu opened the valve, and the water supply returned to normal. At around 9 AM on October 17, his home suddenly lost electricity. When he checked the floor’s power supply room, he found that the power switch had been manually disconnected. After resetting the switch, the power supply returned to normal. Around noon, he discovered that the electricity had been cut off again. Pastor Wu went to check the power supply room once more and found that the wires had been cut. Two unidentified individuals were hurriedly leaving the power supply room, heading towards the elevators. Pastor Wu immediately took photos for evidence, including the damaged wires and the two strangers, and called the police. The police later arrived at the power supply room and also took photos for evidence, including the damaged wires and the photos Pastor Wu had taken of the two strangers.

A Call for Prayer

Pastor Wu asked the church brothers and sisters to pray for his family, asking God to help them overcome this new forced relocation attempt and to remove any anger from their hearts, facing those who persecute them with Christ’s gentleness. He said,

“When you pray for our family, you are acknowledging that we are suffering for the sake of our faith, and you are suffering with us! May God have mercy on us and graciously help us!”

Ongoing Monitoring and Detention

Pastor Wu Wuqing’s family had their water and electricity cut off starting July 25 this year, and they were also monitored and followed. On September 1, Pastor Wu was arrested for serving at a Sunday gathering and was detained for 14 days starting September 2. After returning home from detention, the people that monitored his family were withdrawn, and water and electricity were restored to normal by the end of September. However, on October 16, the water was cut off again, and on the 17th, the electricity was cut off. Early Rain Covenant Church asks Christians to pray for Pastor Wu Wuqing and his family.

Forced Relocation: A Modern-Day Exile Threatening Families and Futures

Lawyer Li Heping, who was involved in the 709 crackdown, expressed his feelings:

“Forced relocation is insidious and vicious. It not only brings economic devastation to the families and friends of those being relocated, but also severs the social relationships of those being relocated. It’s a smaller version of the ancient punishment of exiling entire families, with the difference being that in exile, there was a place to receive them. In forced relocation, the intended destination also obeys orders to expel them, causing the relocated family to be evicted soon after moving into a new home. Sometimes, entire families with elderly and young members are left floating, unable to settle for long periods… This is especially devastating for children.”

(Report by special correspondent Ningmeng)