Two members of a prominent house church in southwestern China have publicly urged authorities to allow family visits with imprisoned Pastor Wang Yi, one of several appeals for religious freedom amid continuing detentions and legal proceedings involving Chinese Christians.
One year after mass arrests of Zion Church leaders, eight remain detained, while other recent developments include the reported release of seven Christians and new details in a separate Beijing church case.
Because Chinese authorities tightly restrict information about religious groups and legal proceedings, many details remain difficult to verify independently. The following roundup summarizes five developments reported as of Oct. 13, 2026.
1. Early Rain Church members call for Pastor Wang Yi’s visitation rights
Shu Qiong and Chen Yan, members of Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church, recently held signs publicly calling for imprisoned Pastor Wang Yi to receive family visits in accordance with Chinese law. One sign declared, “Faith is not a crime.”
Wang was arrested in December 2018 and later sentenced to nine years in prison. In an Oct. 3 statement, his church said family members have visited him fewer than five times, while normal correspondence and telephone contact remain severely restricted.
The appeal followed renewed concerns about Wang’s health, although reports of a serious illness remain unverified. Church members have urged authorities to provide accurate medical information and uphold his family’s legal rights to visitation and communication.
2. One year after Zion Church arrests, families continue seeking release
One year after authorities arrested numerous Zion Church leaders in coordinated operations across China, eight remain detained. Pastor Yang Jun continues advocating for his wife, Wu Qiuyu, while Su Ziming is seeking the release of her imprisoned husband, Pastor Wang Lin.
On Oct. 9, the Lantos Foundation announced that Zion Church founder Pastor Ezra Jin will receive its 2026 Lantos Human Rights Prize for his advocacy on behalf of persecuted believers. The award will be presented Dec. 10 in Washington, D.C.
Jin was released to the United States in July after nine months in Chinese custody, following high-level diplomatic talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He continues urging authorities to release the eight remaining Zion Church detainees and end religious persecution.
3. Purpose-Driven Church pastor and six coworkers reportedly released
Pastor David Tang, founder of Wenzhou’s Purpose Driven Church, and six coworkers detained by Shanghai police during a cross-provincial operation Aug. 5 have reportedly been released, according to ChinaAid sources. It remains unclear whether they were freed on bail pending trial.
Those familiar with the case have been unable to provide further details because of pressure from authorities. ChinaAid previously reported that police had not disclosed the grounds for the seven Christians’ detention.
4. Eight Beijing Jiaquan Church members remain in criminal detention
Eight Christians, including founding pastor Zhou Zixun, remain in criminal detention following a Sept. 4 police raid on Beijing Jiaquan Church, as members prepared to celebrate the congregation’s 20th anniversary. All eight are being held on suspicion of fraud.
According to a Sept. 29 account from Zhou’s wife, more than 100 police officers arrived as members prepared for the celebration. She has questioned the fraud allegations, which she believes stem from authorities’ scrutiny of offerings collected by the unregistered church.
5. Daughter of Hunan Christian shares faith at U.S. immigration detention center
On Oct. 9, Zhang Mei, a former house church lay leader in Yueyang, Hunan Province, who now lives in Texas, shared an update about her daughter, Li Dixuan, who is being held at a U.S. immigration detention center.
According to Zhang, Li has developed friendships with women from several countries, including Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, South Africa and Zambia. She helps with translation, leads Bible studies with five Chinese women and has shared her Christian faith with a Muslim woman.
ChinaAid previously reported that Zhang and Li had sought asylum in the United States amid alleged harassment by Chinese authorities. Li’s immigration detention is a separate matter involving U.S. authorities.
Zhang said some women Li has befriended have since been released and returned to their home countries. She believes the friendships and religious conversations her daughter has cultivated could continue to influence them after their release.
Gao Zhensai is a special correspondent for ChinaAid News. Founded in 2002, ChinaAid is an international Christian human rights organization committed to promoting religious freedom and the rule of law in China through advocacy, legal support, and international awareness campaigns.