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Further Raid Against Early Rain Covenant Church

ChinaAid, Voice of the Martyrs Korea 18 June 2026

Officers are surrounding a group of people seated on chairs facing a stage. — Police raid at the Early Rain Covenant Church.
Photo: ChinaAid

The Early Rain Covenant Church has experienced significant and sustained governmental pressure, particularly since a major raid took place in December 2018, resulting in a nine-year prison sentence against Pastor Wang Yi. Despite ongoing opposition, the church has remained steadfast in its commitment to continue gathering for worship and ministering in the community.

On June 14th, congregation members faced their latest challenge when dozens of police officers and governing officials stormed the venue during a Sunday morning gathering. Church leaders report that 33 believers were detained, including Elder Yan Hong and Elder Wu Wuqing. After several hours of interrogation, all the detained members were released. However, the following day, the two mentioned elders were sentenced to 14 and 15 days of administrative detention.

According to Dr. Bob Fu of ChinaAid, "This raid is another stark reminder that the Chinese Communist Party continues to treat peaceful Christian worship as a threat to state control." Previously posted Persecution & Prayer Alerts concerning Christian persecution in China, including those specifically addressing the earlier actions taken against the Early Rain Covenant Church, are available at our country profile.

May God further empower these long-suffering church members by His Holy Spirit so they will courageously persevere in the midst of opposition.
Also pray for the continual protection, strengthening and empowering of their imprisoned church leader, Pastor Wang Yi, and now also the recently detained elders.
Remember the many other congregation members who have been affected by this most recent raid – including the children who were present during the detainment interrogation – asking the Lord to calm every anxious heart with comfort, reassurance and a deep sense of His abiding presence.
Pray that, through these temporary earthly trials, the Early Rain church family would increase in both love and unity, watching over one another with utmost care and standing firmly together with enduring faith and hope.

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.

China News

Further Raid Against Early Rain Covenant Church

Police raid at the Early Rain Covenant Church.
Photo: ChinaAid

The Early Rain Covenant Church has experienced significant and sustained governmental pressure, particularly since a major raid took place in December 2018, resulting in a nine-year prison sentence against Pastor Wang Yi. Despite ongoing opposition, the church has remained steadfast in its commitment to continue gathering for worship and ministering in the community.

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Photo: ChinaAid

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Photo: Unsplash / Wei Chen

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