Chinese Police Raid Early Rain Church Service, Detain Dozens and Injure 3
Updated
Updated · Bitter Winter · Jun 15
Chinese Police Raid Early Rain Church Service, Detain Dozens and Injure 3
3 articles · Updated · Bitter Winter · Jun 15
Summary
Around 11 a.m. on June 14, police stormed Early Rain Covenant Church’s Sunday service in Jiangyou, Mianyang, checked IDs and began removing worshippers in buses and vans; several detainees’ whereabouts were still unclear.
Roughly 30 SWAT officers and another 60 plainclothes and regular police took part, according to eyewitnesses, and members said officers injured about three men when they charged into the gathering.
By 12:45 p.m., the church said Elder Yan Hong, Elder Wu Qing, Liu Yingxu, Nie Bo, Li Benli, Axin and others had been taken away, while parents with children were held temporarily at a restaurant under police watch.
The raid extends renewed pressure on the church after detentions in Chengdu, Deyang and other places earlier in 2026, and follows the 2018 crackdown that led to Pastor Wang Yi’s nine-year prison sentence.
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.