(October 11, 2025 – Midland, Texas USA)
Today, we are witnessing the most extensive and coordinated wave of persecution against urban independent house churches in China in over four decades. Since October 9, 2025, Chinese authorities have launched simultaneous raids across at least seven provinces—Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Shandong, Guangxi, and Hainan—targeting dozens of unregistered congregations including the renowned Zion Church and its affiliated network.
More than thirty pastors, ministers, and Christian leaders have been arbitrarily detained, disappeared, or placed under house arrest. Their homes and worship venues have been ransacked, property confiscated, and their families harassed. The government’s actions represent a direct assault on the fundamental human right of religious freedom and a stark reminder that the Chinese Communist Party remains determined to eradicate any form of independent civil faith community that does not submit to state control.
This new nationwide campaign echoes the darkest days of the 1980s, when urban churches first re-emerged from the Cultural Revolution. Yet, unlike four decades ago, today’s persecution is aided by digital surveillance, nationwide coordination, and “fraud” charges manipulated to criminalize peaceful worship.
ChinaAid condemns in the strongest possible terms this blatant violation of both China’s own Constitution (Article 36) and international norms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
We call on:
1. The Chinese government to immediately release all detained pastors, ministers, and believers and to cease the nationwide suppression of house churches;
2. The United States government, allied nations, and international institutions—including the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief—to demand accountability and raise this issue at the highest diplomatic levels;
3. Global churches and believers to stand in prayer and solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters in China, remembering those in chains as though we were bound with them (Hebrews 13:3).
“Xi Jinping has waged a war against God’s Church such as the Zion Church that he will never win. The level of persecution against religious freedom has reached to the worst in 40 years. Faith is not a crime. Worship is not a crime. Prayer is not a crime.
The courage of China’s urban pastors and believers will be remembered in history as a living testimony that the light of Christ cannot be extinguished by tyranny.” Said Dr Bob Fu, founder and president of ChinaAid, “We call upon the Chinese Communist regime to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily arrested church leaders. I urge the free world leaders including President Trump, Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio to speak up in solidarity condemning the CCP’s repression against independent house churches and peaceful Chinese Christian leaders. Those responsible should be held accountable.”
Dr. Bob Fu
Founder and President, ChinaAid Association
Midland, Texas USA
www.ChinaAid.org
