Chinese Pastor An Yankui Detained for Organizing Illegal Religious Activities

Pastor An Yankui of the Taiyuan Xuncheng Reformed Church was arrested at his home on September 29 by the Taiyuan Public Security Bureau. Authorities cited suspicion of “organizing illegal religious activities” under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law. An, who leads an unregistered Protestant congregation, has faced multiple detentions and raids by local officials in recent years, including a previous 15-day detention in 2020.

This arrest follows a broader pattern of increased pressure on unregistered house churches in China. Earlier in September, authorities in southern China confiscated biblical materials from another congregation, accusing members of promoting a cult and threatening to investigate the children of those who refused to cooperate with police.

In response to these developments, advocates are calling for continued international attention. During the 2026 Global Religious Freedom Gathering, recently released Pastor Ezra Jin reported that over 150 church leaders remain imprisoned in China. Jin urged the global Christian community to maintain advocacy and prayer efforts for those currently facing persecution.