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(Beijing – Jiangsu, June 22, 2025) Pastor Jin Mingri and the pastoral team of Beijing Zion Church issued a public prayer letter revealing that on the morning of June 22, eight Christians attending a gathering in Changzhou, Jiangsu, were suddenly taken away by the police for investigation. As of that evening, one individual had yet to be released.
Police Raid and Interrogation During Worship Gathering
According to the prayer letter, at 10:00 a.m. that morning, while these eight Christians were engaging in worship in a traditional manner, about ten law enforcement personnel abruptly entered the gathering site and took the participants to Hongmei Police Station for questioning. The letter stated that the Christians were subjected to unreasonable interrogation at the station, and the police recorded the process as “reporting a situation.” By 6:00 p.m. that evening, seven had been released, leaving only a young brother named Zhu Hua still in detention.
Zhu Hua’s Detention and Lack of Official Communication
Zion Church described Zhu Hua as an earnest young man dedicated to his faith and ministry, highly respected among church members. It is believed that after the police imposed coercive measures on him, his family received no formal notice. That evening, Zhu Hua’s father repeatedly tried to contact the police to inquire about his son’s situation, making multiple calls to Hongmei Police Station without success. He was only told to “wait to be notified” and was refused any information about the handling officers or their contact details.
Ongoing Suppression of Zion Church Branches
Zion Church’s statement noted that its branches across various regions have recently faced increasing suppression, with numerous Church members summoned or encountered harassment. The Church believes that such incidents reflect the immense pressure faced by religious groups, and it calls on Christians everywhere to pray for the persecuted and stand in solidarity.
Call to Prayer Amid National Crackdown on Churches
The prayer letter reads: “Since April 2025, storms have swept across China, with churches subjected to various forms of harassment and heavy pressure. Many pastors have been detained, and elders severely sentenced. This is an unprecedented time of trial for the Church in China, and the children of God need to watch and pray together.”
Finally, the Zion Church called on all faith communities to pray for Zhu Hua and other persecuted Christians, asking that their faith be strengthened, truth prevail, and the Church stand firm amid the storm.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Ningmeng of ChinaAid)