(Sichuan — January 22, 2026) According to the latest information from Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church (秋雨圣约教会), since the arrest of church elders, coworkers, and members on January 6, 2026, only one person—seminary student Song Haibing—has been released, on January 19. The remaining seven individuals are still being held.
It is reported that Song Haibing (宋海兵) was administratively detained on the charge of “obstructing the law enforcement of state security organs.” Authorities have yet to return his mobile phone, computer, and some books confiscated during the search of his home.
Lawyers have now confirmed that Elder Li Yingqiang (李英强) and Brother Lin (林弟兄) have been charged on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power.” As for the other five detained believers, their families and lawyers are still unable to obtain information regarding the specific reasons for their arrests or the charges involved.
The detention locations of those currently held are stated below:
- Preacher Dai Zhichao (戴志超): Deyang Detention Center
- Brother Ye Fenghua (叶丰华): Deyang Detention Center
- Deputy Deacon Jia Xuewei (贾学伟): Deyang Detention Center
- Brother Liang Zhongyuan (梁中原): Zhongjiang Detention Center
- Brother Lin (林弟兄): Zhongjiang Detention Center
- Elder Li Yingqiang’s wife, Sister Zhang Xinyue (张新月): place of detention currently unknown
As of now, lawyers have not been permitted to meet with any of the detainees.
Since the events of January 6, multiple small groups of Early Rain Covenant Church, including the Yidu Group, Jinsha Group, Taisheng Group, and Tashui Group, have seen brothers and sisters successively summoned by local police or community personnel and explicitly required to leave Early Rain Covenant Church.
On January 11, a sunday morning, church member Sister Shu Qiong (舒琼) was summoned as she was getting ready to head out and forcibly taken to a police station. Police cited two reasons: first, to prevent her from attending Sunday worship; second, that a photo of a summons notice she had taken during a January 6 summon had been posted on overseas websites.
Shu Qiong stated that Christians keeping Sunday worship is a responsibility of their faith, unless she is summoned to the police station every Sunday. She responded by citing Hebrews 10:25: “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
She also explained that photographing and posting the summons notice was not intended to target any individual. If it caused inconvenience to those involved, she was willing to apologize. However, she added that if such actions continue, she will continue to document and publish them. She said, “Each of us answers to our own master. I will do what I should do, you do what you should do, and I am willing to bear the ultimate cost and consequences.”
Shu Qiong remained at the police station for about eight hours, during which she prayed for several people, and was then released.
On the evening of January 14 (Wednesday), the Taisheng Group and Wuding Group of Early Rain Covenant Church were having Bible study gatherings when police from Qingyang District came for an inspection. Those present were forced to register their personal identification information, and some brothers and sisters received warnings and threats.
On January 16, Brother Liu Hengqi (刘恒奇), a member of the Taisheng Group, had his lease forcibly terminated by his landlord due to external pressure, he has been forced to move out. Sister Lin Fangxiao (林方笑) was also informed by her landlord that, due to pressure from the community and building manager, her lease would not be renewed.
Multiple signs indicate that after years of continued pressure, Early Rain Covenant Church is now facing a new round of challenges of greater intensity and broader scope.
Early Rain Covenant Church responded in its public prayer:
“In such circumstances, may God strengthen us, grant us a heart willing to suffer for the faith, and give us hope of eternal life, so that we may joyfully follow the Lord who suffered for us—He who has already overcome death and all the powers of darkness on the cross.”
Ningmeng, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid
