(Chengdu, Sichuan Province – March 22, 2023) On the morning of March 17, police officers summoned one of the pastors of Early Rain Covenant Church Ding Shuqi. Police took him and Shu Qiong, giving each of them a 14-day administrative detention.
The morning of the arrests
At 10 AM, Elder Li Yingqiang went with his wife Zhang Xinyue and Early Rain member Shu Qiong to Pastor Ding Shuqi’s house. He was arrested two hours beforehand, and they visited with Ding’s wife and family until three police officers arrived. They summoned Shu Qiong to the station for “attending activities organized by banned [organization] Early Rain Covenant Church.” Two police officers came back an hour later to take Elder Li and his wife for the same reason as Shu and Pastor Ding.
Elder Li and his family evicted
In the afternoon, authorities evicted Elder Li Yingqiang’s family from Chengdu and sent them back to Deyang city. Church members who were keeping Li’s children tried to contact him and his wife. Due to the urgency of the situation, the couple did not get to take their cell phones or any of their other possessions with them to Deyang. ChinaAid sources confirmed that they made it safely.
Elder Li Yingqiang with his wife Zhang Xinyue (ChinaAid source)
Early Rain members reflect on the arrests
Several Christians from Early Rain accompanied the families of Shu Qiong and Pastor Ding and waited outside Yongquan Police Station. They saw Shu Qiong taken out by police on handcuffs. She raised her handcuffed hands and said “This is my crown of glory.”
Another Christian recalled: “When I sat in the hall of Yongquan police station, three plain-clothes police brought in Pastor Ding Shuqi. Ding saw us and said with a smile ’I am detained.’” Before the police car that sent them to Wenjiang Detention Center left, Ding Shuqi and Shu Qiong got an opportunity to briefly talk to their families.
Their administrative detentions were a result of the Early Rain Sunday service on March 5. More than ten police officers came to disrupt, but there were no physical altercations.
Photo: Ding Shuqi’s wife sees her husband off to the detention center while holding their child (ChinaAid source)
Early Rain sends out prayer requests
Early Rain Covenant Church sent out five prayer letters. The letters revealed that on the evening of March 16, preacher Wu Wuqing was confined at home again. On the morning of March 15, officers from Caoshijie Police Station evicted church member Li Benli for “late rent payment.” The letters thanked God for protecting the church despite constant persecution.
They wrote the following:
“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 building 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 our hearts 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 resurrected. 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!
May God keep our church and bless preacher Ding Shuqi and sister Shu Qiong with more grace so they are filled with grace and joy during their 14-day administrative detention. We pray to God to keep their family safe, especially their young children. God, all authorities are established by You. Your will is unstoppable. May You bless our church with bigger revival and let people and angels understand the meaning of Your gospel and church through us.”
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter