(Fuyang, Anhui — December 2, 2025) Sunday worship at the Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui, began in the quiet; however, the gathering was abruptly interrupted by a loud noise. The door was pushed open, a team of police officers rushed in, ordered the pastor to stop preaching, and demanded that everyone present submit to inspection. Children were taken aside from their desks, while parents, teachers, and church co-workers were taken away in front of them; this is not the first time this type of scene has occurred in the past few years.

For a small Reformed house church, such law-enforcement actions have become periodic disruptions, but for the children, the shock of seeing their parents and teachers taken away is only beginning to surface.

The most visible example is the 12-year-old daughter of church member Yang Zhiyan, named Kemu. Earlier this spring, she began experiencing a series of medically difficult-to-explain symptoms, and her family and some doctors believe repeated fear and a highly stressful environment may have played a significant role.

From a Cold to Convulsions: A Child’s Worsening Condition

Brother Yang said that in early April his daughter initially only had a severe cold but afterward suffered persistent abdominal pain. Multiple medical examinations ruled out gastrointestinal illness, epilepsy, encephalitis, and other organic causes. Doctors successively categorized her symptoms as anxiety disorder, tic disorder, or dissociative conversion disorder, prescribing several psychiatric medications. However, her condition did not significantly improve.

On April 29, during a small play-and-study activity, police again raided the scene. According to the family, the child was experiencing convulsions every ten minutes. Several minors present were taken to an unfamiliar meeting room for hours, while her mother was taken away for questioning.

Leaving Home Again, Seeking Medical Care in Shanghai

After returning home, new symptoms emerged: weakness in her legs, sudden extreme fear, and hallucinations of “monsters.” According to the family, these symptoms often intensified when she recalled the scene of the raid. 

Over the next few months, her parents took her to children’s hospitals and psychiatric institutions in Anhui and Shanghai. Multiple imaging tests and EEG studies yielded no clear diagnosis, but psychological assessments listed several emotional indicators in the “severe” range.

In June, the church was raided again. As Brother Yang prepared to take his daughter out of Fuyang to rest, he was detained by plainclothes officers at the train station. The child witnessed the entire incident. He was released after about a day, and the family later left the area briefly.

What the Child Truly Fears Is the Police

As medications were gradually discontinued, a Christian psychiatrist familiar with church communities suggested that the child’s condition more closely resembled panic disorder induced by long-term fear and high-pressure circumstances. The psychiatrist advocated for regular prayer, companionship, and conversation. She began showing some signs of improvement by mid-August: fewer convulsions and brief periods of walking on her own.

But when the family decided to return to Fuyang in late October, she still showed clear fear. “She didn’t want to come back; what she fears most is seeing the police again,” Brother Yang said.

At present, her condition remains unstable. The episodes have decreased from once every ten minutes to once every half-hour or longer; each episode lasts from a few seconds to twenty seconds.

Long-term Pressure on a Church

In recent years, Fuyang Maizhong Reformed Church has faced multiple law-enforcement actions. According to members, circumstances such as services being disrupted, individuals being summoned, and children being taken to unfamiliar locations have created long-term psychological pressure within the community. Brother Yang revealed that from a young age, his daughter had been taught to deliberately lower her voice during lessons and stay alert of surroundings when outside.

Experts note that for minors in such environments, chronic tension and uncertainty can have long-lasting effects, yet psychological support is often lacking.

Seeking Prayer and Community Support

Brother Yang chose to publicly share his daughter’s story after a friend asked about her recent condition, and he also wished to express gratitude to those who have supported them. Church members continued to pray, pay visits, and offer informal emotional support; some church elders have even attempted to relieve her fear through religious practices such as “deliverance prayer.”

China Aid Association, based on a report from the Kingdom Prayer Network