(Yunnan, China – June 8, 2026) Authorities in Yunnan Province, in southwestern China, have ordered house church preacher Chang Hao to stop leading online Christian teaching and prayer meetings, accusing him of organizing illegal religious activities.
On June 3, seven officials from the Zhenxiong County Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau and other local authorities visited Chang’s residence and served him with a Notice Ordering the Cessation of Illegal Activities. Authorities accused him of using Zoom to teach Christian doctrine and organize prayer meetings in violation of China’s Regulations on Religious Affairs.
The notice instructed Chang to immediately halt the activities and warned that failure to comply could result in administrative penalties or referral to judicial authorities if a crime was suspected. On June 4, Chang reported that authorities also restricted his WeChat account.
In response, Chang challenged the accusations, telling officials: “Faith is not a crime. My faith does not violate the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On the contrary, any provisions that conflict with the Constitution and international law are unjust laws, and citizens have the right to refuse to comply with them.”
Officials presented screenshots from an online gathering Chang had hosted at 5 p.m. and accused him of violating religious regulations.
The meeting was part of the “5PM in China – Kingdom Prayer Meeting,” a daily online prayer network that brings together Christians from across China to pray for detained and imprisoned believers.
The prayer ministry recently came under increased scrutiny after authorities in Fujian Province detained preacher Chen Huizhen, one of the network’s leaders, over her involvement in the ministry. Religious freedom advocates say the case reflects growing pressure on independent Christian prayer initiatives operating outside state-approved religious organizations.
According to Chang, five law enforcement vehicles arrived at his residence during the June 3 visit. Present were Yu Bojun, Chang Lei and Cheng Shengzong of the Zhenxiong County Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau; Wang Xing, Party secretary of Dayuanzi Village; Wu Changyuan, district chief; and later Shi Huihuang, deputy secretary of the town Party committee and a village-stationed cadre.
Chang said he documented the proceedings by photographing and recording the officials while authorities recorded audio and video of the encounter. He alleged that Cheng Shengzong questioned him without presenting law-enforcement credentials, explaining that the credentials were still being processed, while Yu Bojun prepared the written record.
Officials later read aloud a document signed by Director Luo of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, photographed the proceedings and departed.
Chang is a house church preacher from Yunnan who has long been involved in advocacy related to religious freedom and the rights of vulnerable groups. He has a second-degree physical and psychological disability and has previously faced scrutiny from state security and religious affairs authorities because of his Christian activities.
The latest warning is not Chang’s first encounter with authorities. In April 2023, police in Zhenxiong County detained him over online comments related to religious freedom and public affairs, as well as his possession of religious literature.
He was later convicted of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” and sentenced to one year and two months in prison. Supporters said his health deteriorated significantly during detention, drawing concern from rights advocates and international human rights organizations.
After completing his sentence and being released in June 2024, Chang resumed ministry through both online and in-person activities. The recent warning over Zoom-based preaching and prayer meetings suggests authorities have continued to monitor his activities.
Christian groups and human rights advocates inside and outside China are monitoring Chang’s case closely. The warning comes amid broader pressure on participants in the “5PM in China – Kingdom Prayer Meeting,” raising concerns that additional restrictions or legal action could follow.
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.