China, Chengdu’s Early Rain Church: Yet Another Wave of Arrests

A new police operation targeted the long-persecuted house church on January 6.

By Feng Reng

January 9, 2026

Summons presented by the police when taking Sister Shu Qiong.

On January 6, 2026, Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church  and its members faced a new coordinated police operation. Multiple elders, pastors, assistant deacons, and brothers and sisters were taken away or had their personal freedom restricted. This was accompanied by home raids, home surveillance, communication restrictions, and loss of contact. The incident spans Chengdu and Deyang, with developments ongoing.

Early Rain has circulated a list of “members who have been taken away or had their personal freedom restricted (in known order)”:

1.  Elder Li Yingqiang: Taken from his home in Deyang on the morning of January 6, where his residence was searched. He remains unaccounted for. Police information indicates he has been arrested, but his family has not received formal legal documentation. His wife, Pastor Zhang Xinyue, and their two children were left at home under surveillance with restricted external communication.

2. Pastor Dai Zhichao: Previously notified, he was prohibited from leaving his residential district. He was taken away from the church office around 11:00 AM on January 6, then brought home, where his residence was searched. He remains unaccounted for; reports indicate he is detained at the “Jinniu District Case Handling Center.”

3. Brother Ye Fenghua: Taken away and his residence searched on January 6. His wife and children were left at home under surveillance with limited contact with the outside world.

4. Preacher Yan Hong: Taken away around 5 PM on January 6. No further information available at this time.

5. Assistant Deacon Zeng Qingtao: Reports indicate he was previously restricted from leaving his residential community and had individuals stationed nearby. He was taken away around 5 PM on January 6. No further information available at this time.

Additionally, the church reports that Deputy Deacon Jia Xuewei remains unaccounted for. Another “brother (name withheld for now)” is also missing; it is unclear whether he was taken away or temporarily unreachable for other reasons.

The report states that the following two members returned home between the evening of January 6 and the early morning of January 7:

6. Evangelist Wu Wuqing: Taken away around 5 PM on January 6 and allowed to return home around 11:30 PM that same evening.

7. Sister Shu Qiong: Taken away around 10 PM on January 6 on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” and allowed to return home around 6 AM on January 7.

A photo circulating in relevant channels shows an officer wearing a reflective “POLICE” vest holding a summons document. Identifiable details from the image indicate the document is titled “Chengdu Municipal Public Security Bureau Jinjiang District Branch Summons,” stating: “You are hereby summoned to appear at Chunxi Road Police Station, Jinjiang District Branch of Chengdu Municipal Public Security Bureau, Sichuan Province, for questioning at 22:00 on January 6, 2026.” The individual depicted in the photo is Sister Shu Qiong, mentioned in the Early Rain Covenant Church’s statement, who was taken away on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.”

The statement reported that this operation targeted multiple elders, pastors, deacons, and their family members of Early Rain Covenant Church, involving cross-regional actions (Chengdu, Deyang), accompanied by home raids, restrictions on personal freedom, home surveillance, and individuals going missing. The statement also issued prayer requests: pray for those still detained, under home surveillance, or missing, and their families; pray for the physical and mental recovery and spiritual fortification of members who have returned home; and pray that the church may uphold its faith, love one another, and strive to preserve unity amid pressure.

As of this writing, beyond the information provided in the church’s statement and accompanying photos, it remains challenging to verify additional details independently; the situation continues to evolve and requires further updates.

Source: bitterwinter.org