(Shenyang, China — July 17, 2025) According to information posted on WeChat by Enmei, a co-worker of Sai Er Te Young Adults Fellowship in Shenyang, at least five core pastors and co-workers, including her husband Wang Xiangchao, have been arrested and criminally detained by the Shengli Police Station in Kangping County, Shenyang City. The five individuals are Pastor Mingdao, Brother Wang Xiangchao, Brother Shao, Sister Liu, and Sister Gu. They have been charged with “using a cult organization to undermine the enforcement of the law.”
On the night of June 29, police came into Enmei’s home and took away her husband, Wang Xiangchao. The next day, upon returning home, Enmei discovered signs of a raid. It was not until July 1 that she received a phone call from the police informing her that her husband had been criminally detained.
Their Ministry and Life Together
Enmei revealed that after she and Wang Xiangchao graduated from college and began working in Shenyang, they met and fell in love while attending gatherings at the Sai Er Te Young Adults Fellowship, later marrying and starting a family. She stated that they have been part of this church for ten years, grateful for its biblical foundation, which teaches about God’s creation, humanity’s fall, Christ’s redemption, and His return. These teachings deepened their understanding of truth and inspired them to serve in the church’s routine coordination and meal preparation. Enmei described their life as simple yet meaningful.
Details of the Raid
That peaceful life was shattered on the night of June 29. Several police officers came and took her husband for investigation. When Wang Xiangchao was taken away, Enmei was not home. The following day, she found the once-neatly arranged bookshelf in disarray, and several cherished Bibles, which had been treasured over many years, were missing. Enmei expressed confusion, questioning whether Christians were now forbidden to read internationally recognized Bible translations. Her child’s study tablet and their work laptop were also confiscated. Witnessing all of this, she felt disoriented and unsure of what was happening. Only on July 1 did she receive a call from Shengli Police Station in Kangping County informing her that Wang Xiangchao had been criminally detained for “using a cult organization to undermine the enforcement of the law.”
Conditions in Detention
Enmei said Wang Xiangchao remains in detention. During interrogation, he was allegedly threatened with harm to his family and child, coerced into making false statements, and pressured to admit involvement in “cult activities.” She described her husband as a hardworking employee and devoted family man, often praised by his supervisor for skipping lunch breaks to work overtime so he could return home on time to care for his family.
Enmei expressed that, due to his detention, Wang Xiangchao cannot work or care for his family. He has a finger injury that requires ongoing treatment, but while in detention, he has been wearing a splint without receiving timely care. She also noted that during interrogations, Wang Xiangchao was subjected to severe coercion, making it impossible for him to answer truthfully.
Abuse Faced by Other Detainees
Enmei revealed that Pastor Mingdao, Brother Shao, Sister Liu, and Sister Gu, who were detained along with Wang Xiangchao, are all faithful members of the Sai Er Te Fellowship, serving others tirelessly. Now, however, they have been subjected to threats, intimidation, and brutal assaults by a group of seven to eight people, including beatings (targeting their ribs), hair-pulling, blindfolding, slapping, kicking, and interrogations that started from day and went into the night. They were relentlessly coerced into making false confessions and false evidence by these individuals. Enmei said this experience has completely shattered her perception of the police.
Appeal for Justice
As a family member, Enmei feels she and her loved ones are being oppressed by dark forces. She believes she must speak out for the person she trusts and loves most, appealing for justice in hopes of their early return.
Affiliation with “Word of Life Church”
It is understood that Sai Er Te Young Adults Fellowship is a local house church affiliated with Shenyang’s “Word of Life Church,” an evangelical congregation focused on ministering to university students. In recent years, “Word of Life Church” has also faced intense persecution. Formerly known as the “All Ranges Church,” it has been criticized by some orthodox churches for certain theological deviations. However, several highly respected church leaders from China and abroad, including Pastor Zhao Tian’en, after careful inspection, affirmed that they are brothers and sisters in Christ and supported their ministry.
Analysis from Elder Li Yingqiang
On July 9, Elder Li Yingqiang of Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church wrote an article titled “How Should We Pray for ‘Word of Life Church’?” In it, he emphasized that Christians should exercise spiritual discernment when hearing the term “cult.” He argued that in certain political contexts, the label “cult” is often not based on strict theological criteria but rather serves as a tool for social control. Any group that grows rapidly, gathers many members, and operates independently of official systems can easily be seen as a “threat” to existing social governance and thus labeled a “cult” to provide a “legal” pretext for suppression. Therefore, defining “All Ranges Church” or “Word of Life Church” as a “cult” is less an objective theological conclusion and more a political and administrative tactic.
Legal Implications of the “Cult” Label
Regarding the official accusation of “using a cult organization to undermine the enforcement of the law” against Word of Life Church, Elder Li Yingqiang explained that once a religious group is officially labeled a “cult,” all of its normal religious activities, whether gatherings, prayers, evangelism, or offerings, can be interpreted as “using a cult organization to conduct activities,” which in turn are classified as “undermining the enforcement of the law.” This creates a self-perpetuating legal trap.
Violation of Religious Freedom
For the brothers and sisters of Word of Life Church, they are simply practicing their faith, doing what Christians around the world do. Yet, because their church is unregistered and has been labeled a “cult,” activities that should be protected under the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom are instead criminalized. This is the root cause of the predicament faced by many house churches, especially Word of Life Church. In fact, the Chinese government can label any independent house church that refuses to join the state-sanctioned “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” as a cult.
Call to Prayer & Solidarity
Elder Li Yingqiang called on Christians nationwide to pray for Word of Life Church, despite theological differences, because they are all members of the body of Christ. He stated:
“Their suffering is our suffering. May the Lord stir our hearts so that we not only remember them in words but also stand with them in prayer, becoming their faithful intercessors in prayer.”
(Reported by Special Correspondent Ningmeng of ChinaAid)
Relevant Coverage:
Elderly House Church Christian Yang Zhijin Arrested on cult charges
Comprehensive report: Chinese Communist Party authorities launch large-scale persecution of the “All Ranges Church” in China
The Bureau handles the Suizhou Church case in Hubei separately, and the accusations are absurd
