(Chengdu, Sichuan province – December 20, 2024) December 9, 2024, is the sixth anniversary of the “12.9” case at Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church, a day of fasting and prayer for the church, and a “Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in China”.
List of Elders and Co-workers taken away by the authorities
As with every year since 2018, from the morning until the afternoon of the “12.9” day, a number of elders and co-workers of the church, including Elder Li Yingqiang, were summoned and taken away by the police.
- At around 11:30 a.m., Vice Deacon Zeng Qingtao was taken away from his home by the Tuqiao Police Station and the Wuhou Public Security Bureau’s Political Security Bureau for engaging in illegal association activities;
- Around 12:30 p.m., Evangelist Yan Hong was taken away from his home by several police officers from the Hongpailou Police Station of the Wuhou Public Security Sub-bureau, who showed him a warrant;
- Around 2:40 p.m., Preacher Wu Wuqing was taken from his home with a warrant by the Yongning Township Police Station of the Wenjiang Public Security Bureau;
- Around 2:50 p.m., Vice Deacon Xiao Brindled Biao was taken away from his home with a summons by the Yongquan Police Station of the Wenjiang Public Security Sub-bureau;
- At around 3:30 p.m., Evangelist Dai Zhichao was summoned to the Jinniu Public Security Sub-bureau Wubanshi Police Station.
- Around 4:30 p.m., Elder Li Yingqiang’s entire family of four was taken away by the Deyang police.
By now, Elder Li Yingqiang’s family of four, Subdeacon Zeng Qingtao, Preacher Yan Hong, Preacher Wu Wuqing, Subdeacon Xiao Brindlediao, Preacher Dai Zhichao, and nine other co-workers and brothers and sisters had been summoned.
The Faithful in Christ – 12.9 Prayer Meeting for Persecuted Chinese House Churches
On 12.9, Early Rain Covenant Church, North American Baptist Church Faithful Friends Church, B.C. Chang’s Talks, China Evangelical Association of America, and Nicodemus Truth Seekers jointly organized a conference titled, “The Faithful in Christ – 12.9 Prayer Meeting for Persecuted Chinese House Churches”, thousands of Chinese Christians from China and other parts of the world participated in this online prayer meeting.
The prayer meeting reviewed the cases of religious persecution in Chinese house churches so far this year, recalled what God has done in this year, and prayed together for the persecuted churches and Christians.
The online prayer meeting invited short speeches and sharing from famous American pastors John Piper, Hong Yujian, Zhang Bogasa, and Shi Dishu, and some Christian churches from the United States and Canada also sent prayer videos to encourage Chinese Christians who are persecuted by the government to persevere in the way of the cross, and to bring glory to Christ no matter what the situation is.
The organizer said,
“12.9 is not only a sign of suffering, but also a sign of grace and love. On this day, combing and releasing the annual situation of persecuted Chinese house churches is to witness these chained gospel messengers who are faithful in Christ and can be strong in grace.”
As of the end of the prayer meeting, the nine elders, co-workers and children of the Early Rain Covenant Church who were taken away by the police returned home one by one.
(By Lemon, Special Correspondant to ChinaAid)
