(Putian, Fujian province – November 11, 2024) On November 10, 2024, Putian Puguang Church in Fujian was stormed during Sunday worship, and three pastors from the church, Hong Qiuyong, Wu Gelan, Song Zhiguang, and three other staffs, a total of six people, are still being detained at the police station.

Harassment and persecution faced by new members at Early Rain Covenant Church

Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church also disclosed in its public intercession on November 10 that members of the church were once again being harassed and persecuted by the community, the Civil Religion Bureau, and the police station. In the past week, nearly a dozen members of the church have been interviewed by authorities in their community, several of whom are new members to the church and many of whom are experiencing such persecution for the first time. This is because they attended the church’s Sunday service on September 1, where four staffs, including Elder Li Yingqiang, were detained. Dujiangyan Bureau staff interviewed Bro. Zheng, Bro. Song, and Sister Li and coerced them into signing a promise not to participate in “illegal religious activities”. One of the brothers was tricked into signing, but later repented after being rebuked in his conscience.

In addition, two elderly sisters were harassed by the police, the community, and the Civil Religion Bureau at their doorsteps, and in front of their unbelieving family members they were threatened with all kinds of things, saying that participating in illegal activities would affect their children’s employment, schooling, and pension payments, etc. One of the elderly sisters was even kicked out of her home by her own son, and her family members suffered a lot of fear and torment as well.

Hunan Changsha Grace Light Church stormed

Last Sunday, November 3, a larger congregation in Hunan’s Changsha Grace Light Church was also stormed and not allowed to meet offline.

Recently, churches have been stormed almost every Sunday, and this has long been the norm for Chinese house churches that do not want to join the Three-Self Churches and refuse to register with the Civil Religion Bureau. The government has been depriving Christians of their right to freedom of worship, but there are still many churches everywhere that refuse to give in.