(Taipei, Taiwan — June 11, 2026) More than 3,000 Christians from multiple countries gathered in person and online on June 9 for a global prayer event supporting believers facing persecution in China, where authorities have intensified pressure on house churches and clergy in recent years.
The gathering, streamed online from Jinan Presbyterian Church in Taipei, Taiwan—a self-governing island democracy claimed by China—was part of the monthly “Fasting and Prayer for the Persecuted Church in China” movement. Organizers say the initiative was inspired in part by recurring reports of church-related arrests and detentions around the ninth day of each month.
Following a gathering in New York in May, the June event carried the theme, “Burning, Yet Not Consumed, Standing Together in Witness,” emphasizing the resilience of Chinese Christians amid ongoing pressure.
Prayer movement expands
Pastor Huang Che-yen of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan hosted the prayer meeting, which opened with the song “The Lord’s Love in China,” written by imprisoned Early Rain Covenant Church Pastor Wang Yi and others.
The song commemorates a 2010 incident in which Chinese authorities prevented a delegation of more than 200 Christians from attending the Lausanne Congress in South Africa.
In the opening prayer, Dr. Chen Baoguo gave thanks that, despite difficult circumstances, the Chinese church continues to bear spiritual fruit, comparing believers to seeds buried in the soil that continue to grow and produce a harvest.
Pastor Daniel Grenz, a Western missionary serving in Taiwan, described the present moment as “the time of the Chinese people.” He urged churches across Taiwan to serve as intercessors for China and to renew their commitment to prayer and evangelism.
Organizers also reflected on Taiwan’s own experience under authoritarian rule. They noted that pastors’ sermons were monitored and archived during the 1980s and said support from the global church during that period should now compel Taiwanese Christians to stand alongside persecuted believers in China and elsewhere.
Three fronts of pressure
Pastor Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, analyzed current conditions and trends affecting persecuted churches in China. He emphasized that persecution is a recurring reality in church history, not an exception.
Currently, Chinese authorities increasingly use judicial stigmatization, portraying churches as threats to society rather than relying solely on accusations of “illegal evangelism.”
Pastor Fu identified three main areas in the current campaign against churches in China.
1. A war against the Kingdom of Christ (destroying symbols of salvation)
Since 2014, authorities have conducted large-scale cross-removal campaigns. In May 2026, a church in Wenzhou was reportedly surrounded by large numbers of security personnel and demolished, with several church workers arrested and church leaders facing severe penalties.
2. A war against children and the next generation (blocking the transmission of faith)
Authorities prohibit children and teenagers from attending church and ban religious education in families. Recently, five Christians in Guizhou were reportedly arrested for organizing Sunday school activities for children.
3. A war against God’s servants (stigmatization and criminalization)
Authorities label regular church offerings and tithes as fraud and depict preachers as part of criminal schemes. In Suizhou, Hubei, several church workers have been detained and sentenced, and the lead pastor faces up to fifteen years in prison.
Nevertheless, Pastor Fu emphasized: “The Word of God is not bound. They may close church buildings, but they cannot close the Church; they may imprison the body, but they cannot stop the Holy Spirit. Great persecution often brings great growth.”
Lessons from Early Rain Covenant Church
Pastor Cheng Yang-en of Jinan Church prayed for the vision of justice and peace from the Book of Revelation to inspire people’s hearts and for Chinese churches to receive faith and courage.
Pastor Huang Che-yen also reflected on how the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan had maintained its identity and resisted political pressure in international forums such as the World Council of Churches. He urged the public not to overlook China’s house churches while focusing on the state-sanctioned Three-Self churches.
Pastor Chen Biao, acting pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church, discussed the church’s spiritual vision. Early Rain has faced increasing pressure from authorities, and Pastor Wang Yi remains imprisoned.
Pastor Chen explained that the church has faced repeated persecution due to its commitment to public witness and its vision: “Christ Is Lord, Grace Is King; Bear the Cross and Revive the Gospel.”
When police threatened believers by stating, “Your head (leader) is gone, so you should disperse,” church members responded: “Our head is Jesus Christ. Unless you arrest Jesus Christ as well, we will not stop gathering.”
Support beyond borders
Rev. Huang Chun-seng of Jinan Church encouraged attendees with the Presbyterian Church’s motto, “Burning, Yet Not Consumed.” He shared how the church has assisted believers from Hong Kong and mainland China facing political and religious persecution.
Pastor Huang noted that nearly 1,700 people had joined and were waiting for the 5 p.m. online prayer meeting, reflecting strong global concern. He emphasized that the freedom to worship is a gift from God, and Taiwan’s open worship should inspire advocacy for those who have lost this freedom.
Veteran human rights activist Yang Sen-hung noted that, despite changes in Taiwan’s political leadership over the past two decades, radio programs on human rights and religious freedom in China have continued uninterrupted.
He noted that from the Chen Shui-bian administration to the Ma Ying-jeou administration, these programs reflect a cross-party consensus on justice and human rights.
These broadcasts have featured interviews with figures such as Liu Xiaobo, Gao Zhisheng, Chen Guangcheng, and Bob Fu. He pledged to continue the mission of “doing justice, loving mercy, and walking with God.”
Global prayer relay continues
At the event’s conclusion, Brother Wang Chengzhong shared that the “5PM in China – Kingdom Prayer Meeting,” initiated by leaders including Elder Li Yingqiang of Early Rain Covenant Church, has greatly encouraged believers in detention centers and prisons.
Though several participants and organizers have been questioned or detained by authorities because of their involvement, as previously reported by ChinaAid News.
The prayer meeting concluded with participants reciting the Lord’s Prayer responsively, followed by a benediction from Pastor Huang Chun-seng.
Organizers announced that the global prayer relay will continue with a gathering in Washington, D.C., on July 9, followed by events in Osaka in August and Dallas in September. They called on Christians and supporters of religious freedom worldwide to continue praying for believers facing persecution in China.
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.