(China – March 13, 2025) The All Ranges Church is part of the broader house church movement in China. It is classified as an “underground” or unofficial Christian group that operates without government approval and is not affiliated with the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement. This denomination insists on practicing its faith independently of government oversight and rejects state control over Christianity.
Government Persecution and All Ranges Church’s Adaptation
The All Ranges Church refuses government interference in religious affairs, opting for secret gatherings or small-scale house meetings. For decades, due to its unregistered status, China has relentlessly suppressed this religious group that operates outside the regime’s apparatus. These churches are often subjected to surveillance and crackdowns, with pastors and believers facing arrests, harassment, or other forms of persecution.
The All Ranges Church had to adopt a dispersed and flexible structure to practice its faith solely to evade suppression from the authorities. Meetings take place in homes, rural areas, or secret urban locations, yet they still remain under the watchful eye of one of the most heavily surveillance regimes in the world.
Recent major Persecution cases
The All Ranges Church has played a significant role in the development of Christianity in China. Since 2023, it has faced major persecution in at least two provinces. Recent reported statistics indicate that 26 individuals have been criminally prosecuted.
1. Suizhou Church Case
Among them, the Tongsui Church and Suinan Church in Suizhou, Hubei Province, saw over 20 pastors and church members arrested by the Suizhou Public Security Bureau between late August and early September 2023 during a coordinated operation. On September 16, 2024, nine members of the denomination were formally indicted, with four released on guarantee prior to trial. Additionally, a regional leader who arranged legal representation for the detained church members is now facing prosecution.
The nine Christians involved in the case include:
- Yang Zhijin, 75 years old, from Nanyang, Henan Province.
- Song Yude, 72 years old, from Nanyang, Henan, is a regional leader.
- Ma Fuxiu (female, also known as “Aunt Ma”), 66 years old.
The remaining seven individuals are from Hubei Province:
- Fan Hongyan (Christian name: Su Xin), 34 years old.
- Yang Jirong (Christian name: Yang Qing) is 53 years old.
Four individuals have been released on guarantee prior to trial:
- Zeng Xinhui (Christian name: Qinghui), 54 years old.
- Chen Xiuqin, 53 years old.
- Wang Yiqin, 64 years old.
- Zhang Daojiang, 67 years old.
The prosecution has cited routine church activities that the church members participate in as evidence of the Suizhou Church Case’s alleged crimes. These activities include:
- Church members voluntarily provide spaces for worship gatherings.
- Introducing suitable partners for young Christians who are of appropriate age within the Church.
- Practicing tithing according to teachings of the bible.
- Teaching others how to host young people’s gatherings.
- Hosting visiting speakers of the Church.
The Zengdu District Procuratorate of Suizhou City has categorized all church teachings, sermons, discipleship training, and other educational sessions as “propagating heretical fallacies.” Common church activities — such as parent-child events, fellowships, Easter gatherings, Happiness groups, Holy Communion, prayer meetings, revival sessions, and personal testimonies — have all become incriminating evidence. Prosecutors have labeled these activities as “propagating heretical fallacies.”
Additionally, materials used by the Church — including widely recognized discipleship courses familiar to overseas churches, such as “Experience God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God,” “New Life,” “The Way of Discipleship,” and other materials have been accused of “using the name of Christianity, distorting the doctrines of the Bible and spreading heretical fallacies of the All Ranges Church.”
2. Tibet Persecution Case
Additionally, in Bayi District, Nyingchi City, Tibet, ten Christians from the All Ranges Church faced criminal charges on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024. The individuals include: Yao Xilin, Zhang Wei, Ren Xiaoyun, Wang Haiying, Li Chunjie, Qin Chenglan, Li Xiaolin, Xiao Mingzhi, Wang Ying and Li Yan. Half of these ten believers are from Heilongjiang, Jilin, Ningxia, and Henan, where they were engaged in business activities while also conducting missionary work. The other half are locals from Bayi District, Nyingchi City, Tibet.
Among them, Yao Xilin, Zhang Wei, and Ren Xiaoyun are currently detained in Nyingchi Detention Center. They were initially released on guarantee prior to trial but were later formally arrested. At present, seven individuals are out on guarantee prior to trial.
The prosecutor’s indictment states that since 2019, Yao Xilin, Zhang Wei, and Ren Xiaoyun have revived the organization in Nyingchi and established the “Nyingchi Church.” They allegedly organized and implemented “pioneering evangelism,” spread “heretical fallacies,” and developed a church congregation.
Yao, Zhang, Ren, and Wang Haiying were identified as the primary preachers and labeled as principal offenders. Others were responsible for the youth ministry, served as church band, and handled church logistics. These believers frequently held various gatherings and used Zoom and WeChat groups for prayer meetings.
A Heilongjiang native and the leader of the All Ranges Nyingchi Church, Yao Xilin is likely to become the primary target of government persecution.
The indictment accused members of the “Nyingchi Church” of using methods such as “free medical clinics” and “childcare services” to spread “heretic fallacies” among local residents and minors. It also stated that they invited preachers from other regions to conduct short-term missionary activities and held gatherings in believers’ homes and businesses within the area.
The Church’s books and electronic documents, such as the “Draft of the Church’s Basic Construction” and “Salvation on the Cross,” have been recognized by the Tibet Autonomous Region Public Security Bureau as materials used by the “All Ranges Church” cult organization to rapidly expand and develop its cult organization.
Legal Challenges and Allegations of Cult Activity
Members of the All Ranges Church in both Suizhou City in Hubei and Nyingchi in Tibet have been determined to be in suspicion of violating Article 300, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, a controversial and notorious charge of “organizing and using a cult organization to undermine the enforcement of law.” This legal provision, introduced in the late 1990s, lacks clear definitions in its key concepts of this article; it also does not clearly determine what constitutes a “cult organization” at the time of the enactment of the law.
The faith and religious practices of All Ranges Church’s members do not violate the constitutional right to religious freedom in China. The legal basis for these charges remains highly disputed, as the broad wording of the law grants public security officials and judicial authorities significant discretionary power in its application.
ChinaAid’s Bob Fu’s Statement on Religious Persecution
Rev. Dr. Bob Fu, founder and president of ChinaAid, stated:
“The Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jinping has recently carried out large-scale arrests and prosecutions of orthodox house church leaders in Tibet and the northwestern regions. This is solely religious persecution and a clear indication of escalating religious repression in the entire Tibet region.
The church leaders and Christians arrested are all innocent — the activities listed in the indictments are entirely in line with religious freedom protections under both the Chinese Constitution and international law.
We strongly urge the international community to unite in pressuring the Chinese Communist Party to cease its persecution and release these detained church leaders.”
ChinaAid Association insists that church groups like the All Ranges Church operate with limited transparency, and the reason for the formation of their distinct characteristics is closely tied to the broader social environment. For more than half a century, the Chinese government has continuously suppressed house churches, forcing many to adopt covert measures to protect their existence and safeguard their doctrines from state interference. Authorities must fully recognize the religious and practical freedoms of all house church communities, including the All Ranges Church.
ChinaAid Association firmly upholds the principle of freedom based on fundamental human rights. Religious freedom refers to a person’s right to freely choose their faith within a society and openly participate in religious rituals and traditions without fear of persecution or discrimination. Freedom of religion also includes the right to worship alone or with others, publicly or privately, and to participate in religious ceremonies, activities, and evangelism without fear of oppression or persecution from the government or other societal groups.
An open church structure fosters stability in church-state relations and enhances mutual understanding. A progressive and open religious policy allows doctrines of all denominations to be understood and evaluated by the public, reducing mistrust between different groups.
Background of the All Ranges Church
The “All Ranges Church,” also known as the “Way of Life Church” and referred to as the “Born Again Movement,” was founded in 1984 in Pingdingshan by Xu Yongze (commonly known as Peter Xu), one of the prominent house church leaders in Henan. According to Xu Yongze, the name “All Ranges” signifies “great, broad, and deep,” meaning it encompasses all born-again and saved individuals on earth.
In 1968, during the Cultural Revolution in China, Xu Yongze, who had just been called to Christian ministry, was devastated by the bleak future Christianity faced in the country. In Henan Province, he climbed a mountain near his village and stopped to pray, “Dear Lord, please revive Your church!” Over the next 30 years, Xu Yongze preached the gospel, established new house churches, and trained local church leaders; he eventually founded the Born Again Movement (BAM).
In November 1995, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council Office issued a notice on forwarding Circular by the Ministry of Public Security’s Opinion and Report on the Banning of the ‘Shouters’ and Other Cult Organizations” which explicitly designated the “All Ranges Church” as a cult organization and declared it “banned in accordance with the law.” However, even before China officially published its first list of banned religious groups, the Chinese government had already designated the “All Ranges Church” as a “cult” in 1988.
Early Persecutions
In 1997, Xu Yongze was arrested and sentenced to ten years of labor reform in Henan. Overseas Christian leaders defended Pastor Xu, contending that his harsh sentencing underscored the religious persecution faced in China. He was released in 2000 and successfully obtained asylum in the United States.
This church group adheres to Christian eschatology and places more emphasis on the evangelical doctrine of being born again. It particularly stresses emotional expressions of rebirth, considering weeping in repentance as a sign of salvation. This emphasis has drawn criticism from other house churches, leading some to label the sect as the “weeping born-again movement.”
The Threefold Visions
A branch of this house church identifies with the “threefold visions” which are:
- the evangelization of China,
- the kingdomization of the Church and
- the Christianization of culture.
This vision was initially championed by the late U.S.-based Chinese pastor and China house church expert Dr. Jonathan Chao.
Pioneering Evangelism
The church group also organizes “Seminaries of the Field” conducting Bible training classes to cultivate and develop core members, focusing on basic doctrines such as salvation through rebirth, assurance of eternal life, and others. After the completion of courses, students are sent to various locations for “pioneering evangelism.”
Structure
The All Ranges Church is organized into a complex structure with national, regional, and local leadership. The Suizhou district mentioned in the case was established around 1995, including various church districts in Tongsui, Guozao, Jingshan, Xiaogan, Wuhan, and Honghu. The Tongsui large area has Suinan, Suibei, Tongbai, Yuehe, Xiaolin, and other medium-sized areas. The Suinan medium area has the Suizhou urban area, Tangzhen, Anju, Lishan, Wandian, and other small areas.
Outline of Major Persecution Cases faced by the All Ranges Church
The Chinese government has implemented long-term suppression measures against this church group, engaging in prolonged covert surveillance, strategic crackdowns, and officially designating the sect as a target in “anti-cult warning education bases” within online propaganda campaigns.
Several cases of persecution against the All Ranges Church are listed below:
In 2000, 47 members of the All Ranges Church in Anhui Province were arrested. According to the Jianghuai Morning Post, six key figures in the Church faced criminal charges for organizing an “illegal church” and “illegal gatherings.” Additionally, eight individuals were subjected to administrative detention, while twenty-two others were penalized for “disrupting public order.”
In December 2001, the Jingmen Intermediate People’s Court in Hubei Province sentenced seventeen leaders of the All Ranges Church’s “South China Church” on charges such as “cult” and other crimes. Among them, two founders, Gong Shengliang and Li Ying, were sentenced to death and the death penalty with a two-year reprieve, respectively. At the same time, the other fifteen leaders received sentences ranging from 2 years to life imprisonment. In 1990, Gong Shengliang founded the “South China Evangelistic Mission” (also called the “South China Church”) in Hubei. By 1991, the Church’s activities had expanded to 88 counties across 15 provinces and autonomous regions.
On December 25, 2002, authorities in Nanyang, Henan Province, arrested 176 All Ranges Church members within a month.
On August 15, 2005, over 30 police officers from Henan Province raided a children’s home in Luoyang City run by a family church, arresting 4 American church leaders and over 50 local family church pastors and believers. Among them was 41-year-old preacher Zhuo Tao, who was sentenced to 3 years of reeducation through labor at the end of September. He was the nephew of Xu Yongze, the founder of the All Ranges Church, who had been designated as a “cult” by the Chinese government.
In 2013, the All Ranges Church in Liaoning and Jilin was raided by the police, and nearly ten Christians were arrested. Among them, Li Baozhi had previously been sent for two years of reeducation through labor in 2000 by the Anshan Public Security Bureau for participating in All Ranges Church activities, while two other brothers, Sun Derong and Hou Rongshan, each faced one year of reeducation through labor.
On June 25, 2014, 22 All Ranges Church members gathered in a factory in Cao County, Heze City, Shandong Province, and were arrested by the Cao County National Security Brigade. Ten people were released that day, while 11 others were placed in criminal detention. Among them, two individuals were sentenced to 4 years in prison and served their sentences at the Weibei Prison.
In February 2020, 13 members of a meeting point in Lianshui County, Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, were arrested.
In March 2020, two female preachers in Xixia County, Nanyang City, Henan Province, were arrested during a gathering.
On June 2, 2020, the police in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, raided several meeting points in Jianshui County.
In August 2020, nearly ten workers of the All Ranges Church in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, were arrested during a meeting after a police raid.
On September 8, 2020, during a gathering of Born Again Movement believers in Xichuan County, Nanyang City, Henan Province, six police officers raided the meeting. Three members were detained for 10 days on charges of “illegal assembly,” while the remaining members were released the following day.
From August to September 2023, more than 20 members of the All Ranges Church in Tongsui and Suinan, Suizhou City, Hubei Province, were arrested by the Suizhou Public Security Bureau. In September 2024, eight members were formally charged, with four released on guarantee prior to trial.
On December 25, 2024, 10 Christians from the All Ranges Church in Bayi District, Nyingchi City, Tibet, were charged with criminal offenses.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)
