CCP Detains 30-Plus Early Rain Worshippers, Including Children, in Sunday Raid
Updated
Updated · The Christian Post · Jun 15
CCP Detains 30-Plus Early Rain Worshippers, Including Children, in Sunday Raid
3 articles · Updated · The Christian Post · Jun 15
Summary
More than 30 Early Rain Covenant Church members and leaders were forcibly taken away during a Sunday service in Jiangyou, with children among those detained and questioned, according to church accounts and ChinaAid.
About 50 to 60 police and government personnel reportedly stormed the 11 a.m. gathering, seized Elder Yan Hong and Elder Wu Wuqing, and locked remaining elderly worshippers and children in the ballroom for identity checks.
After hours in custody, most congregants were released after refusing to sign an undisclosed affidavit; the church said detainees sang hymns and prayed while being held.
Early Rain has faced repeated pressure since a major 2018 raid, and founding pastor Wang Yi has been serving a nine-year sentence since 2019.
The raid fits a broader Chinese crackdown on unregistered churches and youth religious activity, with ChinaAid calling the detention of children a grave religious-freedom violation.
With pastors jailed and services raided, what fuels the resilience of China's underground Christian communities?
Is China’s campaign to control religion forcing house churches toward extinction, or just deeper into the shadows?
Crackdown on Faith: The June 14, 2026 Raid on Early Rain Covenant Church and China’s Intensifying Suppression of Unregistered Churches
Overview
On June 14, 2026, police raided the Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC), with videos quickly surfacing online showing the chaotic start of the operation. In the aftermath, the fate of several detained church members—including underage children—remains unclear, raising serious concerns for their safety and well-being. Reports confirm that some members were injured, and families are still waiting for news about their loved ones. This incident has prompted urgent calls from the international community and human rights groups to stay vigilant and advocate for the rights and safety of those affected by the raid.