(Dazhou, Sichuan Province – November 15, 2023) On the morning of November 9, Elder Li Yingqiang and Pastor Dai Zhichao of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church travelled to Dazhou city to visit the “good land mission center”. The mission center held a baptism session, holy communion, and a worship service in a hotel conference room. While believers were singing a hymn at around 11:30 A.M., more than ten police officers, national security agents, and staff of religious affairs bureau and civil affairs bureau raided the conference room.
The officials tried to interrupt the worship but backed off after believers asked them to respect the service. They didn’t allow anyone to leave after the service. At around 12:30 P,M, police took thirteen believers to Chaoyang police station, including Elder Li Yingqiang, Pastor Dai Zhichao, and Hou Duoshu, the leader of the mission center. They were taken to the police station’s waiting room. They waited until around 3:00 P.M. when police began to interrogate them and take written statements. Some were released at around 9:00 P.M. Pastor Dai Zhichao, An Yankui, and Wang Yingjie were released after midnight. At the moment, Elder Li Yingqiang and Hou Duoshu are still being detained.
The “Good Land Mission Center” is a subsidiary of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church. The leader, Hou Duoshu, was a prisoner of conscience. He was sentenced for more than ten years for participating in the June 4th Student Movement in 1989. He heard the gospel in the prison. After he heard that Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church has a mission to serve prisoners of conscience, he joined the petitioners’ fellowship. Studying the Holy Bible completely changed his worldview. Later, he was Baptized in Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church. After he decided to devote his life to share the gospel, he established the mission center in his home town Dazhou city.
Over the years, the “Good Land Mission Center” has suffered from severe religious persecution. The Sunday services were raided by police several times. But they never stopped gathering regardless of the situation.
Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church sent out a public prayer letter at 1:00 A.M. The church asked fellow Christians to pray that God’s glory is filled all over the place in the good land of Dazhou city. May the gospel shake the city, and yield hundred times of fruit. May God keep elder Li Yingqiang and brother Hou Duoshu. They asked others to pray for their immediate release, and that God fill their heart with gratitude and love of fellow brothers during the tribulation.
