(Chengdu, Sichuan province) Yesterday, police raided Early Rain Covenant Church’s Sunday service. When the Sunday service started, police cut off the electricity of the hotel conference room the church rented. But the worship was not interrupted. Preacher Wu Wuqing continued to lead worship with members singing hymns together.
Deacon arrested and abused
At around 8:50 AM, Deacon Jia Xuewei was forcibly taken away by several plain-clothes police officers from the venue. They didn’t show their identification. Then, authorities beat up brother Jia in the elevator.
Police raid Early Rain violently
Several officials from the local religious affairs bureau raided the stage at around 10 AM. They turned off the computer used to live broadcast the service and tried to take away preacher Wu Wuqing’s microphone. Meanwhile, many police officers gathered in the back and began to rob believers’ cell phones to prevent them from taking pictures.
Li Benli and Liu Xin were forced to the ground and beaten because they took pictures. During the abuse, the police broke Li Benli’s glasses and injured his back. Meanwhile, the worship choir sang peacefully: ”In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever.”
Photo: The worship choir continued to sign the hymn “Near the Cross” during the raid (ChinaAid source)
Worship after police raid
Almost 100 believers were forcibly expelled by police. Others peacefully gathered downstairs and continued to worship. Police kept preacher Wu Wuqing, Hao Guiru, Li Benli, Liu Xin, Shu Qiong, and Jin Ying until the end of the Sunday Service and then took them to Tuqiao Police Station.
Photo: Early Rain Christians who were taken to Tuqiao Police Station (ChinaAid source)
The online service
Although the in-person Sunday service was raided, the online service continued. Confined in Deyang city, Elder Li Yingqiang preached online. His topic was “The Letter of Jesus”. He shared that Christians of the Corinthian Church were like a letter Jesus wrote for people to examine the Christian belief. “Today, our church is like a letter. This letter is taken to many places to testify to the power of the Holy Spirit in changing people’s hearts,” Elder Li said.
Preacher Dai Zhichao, another leader confined in his home, continued to lead the service after preacher Wu Wuqing. The Sunday service finished after worship, offering, prayer, blessing, and dispatching. Everyone prayed together for persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.
Photo: Early Rain Christians pray for and wait for arrested believers in front of the police station (ChinaAid source)
Early Rain members visit the police station
Many believers sang hymns in front of the police station. They prayed for arrested believers, sent them water and food, and waited for them to be released.
Police, national security agents, and religious affairs officials arrested and interrogated seven believers. They were released after 5 PM. After Li Benli and Liu Xin were released, the landlord canceled their lease and urged them to move out immediately.
Photo: Early Rain members send water and food to arrested Christians (ChinaAid source)
Early Rain’s prayer response
In response to the raid during the Sunday Service, Early Rain sent out a public prayer letter and thanked God for His protection. Although the church was attacked by the enemy many times, they were used more by God after each attack. The following was written in the prayer letter:
“The entire Chengdu police department knows there is a group of people to whom Sunday Service is very precious. They gather together to worship God because God is their king. They live on the earth, but they belong to the heavenly kingdom. They worship God joyfully and freely. They are drawn by God’s love. Father, Pastor Wang Yi is imprisoned. Many co-workers are confined at home. Our church build was destroyed. Many believers’ families are monitored. But through this, we got a deeper understanding of the preciousness of your salvation. Our worship comes from within because we are living stones. No one can destroy your temple and no one can stop your resurrection. Father, it was in vain for Roman soldiers to seal your tomb because you have resurrected it. It is also in vain for the Chinese government to confine our brothers and sisters at home because we will also resurrect. May your glory reveal during our worship, because You are worthy to receive praise and glory!”
~Yu Bing, China Aid Special Reporter
