(Deyang, Sichuan Province – January 2, 2023) On the morning of December 19, 2023, Elder Li Yingqiang of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church was summoned by local police in Deyang City, and was detained for nearly eight hours. He was not released until 6 p.m. in the evening.
The summon of Elder Li Yingqiang was mainly for questioning and recording statements. The police warned Elder Li Yingqiang not to participate in any online activities in the near future. In connection with this, the police confiscated Elder Li Yingqiang’s computer. Elder Li Yingqiang informed everyone that his family is safe for now.
Elder Li Yingqiang also revealed that on the afternoon of December 15, he was taken away by Deyang police for questioning and recording statements. He was taken away again in the afternoon at five o’clock and was not released until after ten o’clock in the evening. The police primarily questioned him about a video recorded in advance by Elder Li Yingqiang that was played during the online event “The Unshakable Kingdom” on the evening of December 9, 2023, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Early Rain Covenant Church’s crackdown on December 9, 2018.
“The Unshakable Kingdom – Prayer and Sharing Conference for Persecuted Chinese House Churches” was jointly organized by Early Rain Ministries (U.S.), Faith Chinese North American Baptist Church (Canada), Harvest Chinese Christian Church (U.S.), China Ministries International (U.S.), and the Nicodemus Club (Australia). The purpose was to commemorate and acknowledge the wonderful grace and spiritual benefits that God has bestowed upon persecuted churches and Christians imprisoned for their faith. On that day, the commemorative event also issued an important call to Chinese churches and institutions worldwide, suggesting that the week of December 9 would be specified as the “Prayer Week for Persecuted Chinese House Churches”.
On December 9, 2018, Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church faced severe persecution, with Pastor Wang Yi and over a hundred co-workers and believers being arrested overnight. This marked the occurrence of Early Rain Covenant Church’s December 9 crackdown. In the subsequent five years, the church continued to undergo persecution. However, under God’s protection, the church maintained its stance as a house church, upheld the independence of worship and Biblical teaching, and continued to pray for persecuted churches.
Due to the fifth anniversary of the December 9th crackdown, more than a dozen church families of Early Rain Covenant Church began to experience the government’s measure since December 8. Community workers, police, and unidentified individuals obstructed access to homes of co-workers. Preacher Wu Wuqing, Deacon Zeng Qingtao, Deacon Xiao Luobiao, Deacon Fan Hailing, and others had unidentified individuals stationed at their doorsteps to prevent them from going out. Shen Bing experienced “tourism operation,” accompanied by the police on a “tour”. On December 8, Elder Li Yingqiang was warned by the police not to go online. On December 9, Elder Li Yingqiang and his wife were taken to the police station and not released until late at night. Deacon Jia Xuewei had been out of contact since early morning on December 8. It was only after 23:00 in the evening that the church learned from a message Jia Xuewei sent to his relatives that he had been detained for 15 days by Shuangnan Police Station of Wuhou Sub-bureau in Chengdu. Preacher Dai Zhichao was taken away on the afternoon of December 9, and the police, armed with a search warrant, searched Dai Zhichao’s home and took his wife, Lu Lingzhi, to the police station. Dai Zhichao was criminally detained by Jinniu Sub-bureau of Chengdu Public Security Bureau under the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”.
In the public prayer letter on December 9, Early Rain Covenant Church stated that these stability maintenance measures are a common experience for co-workers, and brothers and sisters of the church over the past five years. It is a part of life and the cost of faith.
In the public prayer letter dated December 19, 2024, Elder Li Yingqiang expressed that Early Rain Covenant Church is currently facing various challenges both internally and externally. He requests brothers and sisters to keep praying for them.