(Shanxi – October 29, 2025) Eleven Christians from Taiyuan Xuncheng Reformed Church in Shanxi were released safely in the early morning of October 28, 2025, after fifteen days of administrative detention. The eleven brothers and sisters are Preacher An Yankui, Brother Wang Yingjie, Sister Wang Ying, Brother Zhang Chenghao, Brother Zhao Weikai, Brother Zhang Fengbo, Brother Liu Baofu, Sister Wang Shufang, Sister Dong Wei (in the period of nursing), Sister Song Xiaohong, and Sister Xu Cuili.

They were administratively detained on October 12 during an in-person Sunday worship gathering that was raided. Despite the hardships of detention, their testimonies upon release were filled with praise for God’s grace and deep reflection on faith, displaying the strength and joy of Christians in the midst of persecution.

“A Spiritual Laboratory” of the Preacher Inside and Outside Prison Walls

On the morning of his release, Preacher An Yankui shared his experience and theological reflections with Elder Li Yingqiang of Early Rain Covenant Church and other coworkers. He gave this detention experience a highly insightful title, a “spiritual testing ground.”

An Yankui recounted the initial trial they faced after being taken in. They were first held for 24 hours and forced to sit in the “tiger chair” to deprive them of sleep. When officers demanded to take photos during physical checks, brothers and sisters refused to cooperate, fearing the images might be “posted in places that should not be posted.” An Yankui revealed that he continually “rebuked their crimes,” engaging the police in extended debates on law, morality, and faith.

An Yankui said, “The officer who was with me said, ‘Please be understanding of me; do not make me suffer this mental torment anymore.’ However, I continued to rebuke their crimes.”

“Goodness” and “Unity”: The Gospel’s Transforming Work in the Cell

After entering the detention center, An Yankui found that the entire experience had become an opportunity to preach the gospel. He not only shared the gospel with the police but also translated the principles of faith into concrete, practical concepts for those sharing his cell.

“Later, I realized that the common ground with non-believers is still ‘goodness.’ From the standpoint of ethics, this is the most direct point of entry. So the concept I introduced into the cell was, “Let us be a cell that is both good and united,” Preacher An Yankui said.

This concept stemmed from deep theological reflection. An Yankui believes that outside the church, no actual prototype of a group that is both good and united can be found. This prompted him to consider how the church interacts with society. He pointed out to fellow inmates that goodness is a kind of social capital. The reason people in the cell often mistreat one another is that this capital is lacking. Their presence brought that capital, enabling harmony within the cells.

He summarized: “This time, it was like placing good and evil together, those who put their faith in God and those who follow the devil, to see what reaction would occur. I used to think this was the most unfair thing. However, now I think it is the most wonderful thing —a special spiritual testing ground designed by God. This corresponds to the various trials spoken of in Scripture.” He firmly believes that they were purposefully sent there by God to accomplish these marvelous works.

Grace and Strength in the Midst of Persecution

The effects of this experience were tangible: An Yankui shared that some individuals in the cell expressed a desire to contact them after their release. This powerfully testifies to the transformative work of the gospel in even the harshest environments.

Elder Li Yingqiang of Early Rain summarized the persecution faced by members of Xuncheng Church, saying, “Now God is using a very special way to reveal His grace and power in the midst of suffering.”

Xuncheng Reformed Church is a non-official house church that refuses to submit to the management of the state-approved Three-Self Church system and adheres to Reformed confessions. Because of this, the church has been designated as a target for suppression by local authorities.

Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid based on information from Kingdom Prayer Network