(Chengdu, Sichuan – June 30, 2025) On June 23, 2025, Chen Jiaozhi, a member of Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church, was stopped by customs officers while attempting to leave China at Shenzhen’s Qianhaiwan border checkpoint. Reportedly, the reason given was that she was wearing a shirt for church members of Early Rain Covenant Church that had the slogan: “Christ is Lord, Grace Reigns, Take Up the Cross, Revive the Gospel.”
Chen Jiaozhi was moved by the wonderful testimony of fellow Christians following the “12.9 crackdown” on Early Rain Covenant Church and embraced the church’s vision. For this very reason, she relocated from Beijing to Chengdu to fully commit to Early Rain Covenant Church. Over the years, she has grown spiritually under the church’s pastoral care. At a church retreat on June 21, she shared her testimony with brothers and sisters, expressing her desire to wholly dedicate herself to God and praying for His calling, election, and use of her life.
Background on the 12.9 Crackdown
The “12.9 crackdown” refers to the large-scale suppression launched by the Chinese government on December 9, 2018, against Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu. During the raid, police searched multiple locations of the church, including the Sunday worship venue, seminary, and the homes of elders and deacons. Pastor Wang Yi, several elders, deacons, and hundreds of members were taken away or summoned by authorities, with many detained or later sentenced. This event is widely regarded as one of the most significant acts of persecution against house churches in recent years, aimed at restricting religious freedom and exerting control over Christianity’s growth in the region.
Early Rain Covenant Church stated that Chen Jiaozhi used the opportunity of being stopped at customs to share the gospel and testify to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Since the 12.9 case, church members have faced intense persecution, including pressure to change the church’s name. Authorities reportedly warned them multiple times not to gather under the name “Early Rain Covenant Church,” saying, “If you change it to Spring Rain or Winter Rain, we will not care, but Early Rain is not allowed.” Chen’s decision to wear clothing bearing the “Early Rain” name in public was seen as an act of her boldness and conviction.
In a prayer letter, Early Rain Covenant Church expressed hope that God would continue to use Sister Chen Jiaozhi and prayed for her husband, who is still learning about the faith. They asked God to strengthen the couple’s faith and unite them as one heart and one mind, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Ningmeng of ChinaAid)