Chinese Authorities Detain Early Rain Covenant Church Elders

On September 10, Chinese authorities detained 11 elders from the Early Rain Covenant Church during a meeting at a local teahouse. Police officials stated the action was part of an investigation into a cult. While nine of the individuals were released by the following Saturday, Elder Wu Wuqing and Brother Shen Xiaqing remain in custody, facing accusations of illegally organizing proselytizing activities and a 10-day detention sentence.

Church members expressed concern regarding the health of the detainees, particularly 73-year-old He Futao, who recently underwent cancer surgery. An ambulance was observed at the police station around midnight following the arrests, though authorities did not confirm if any of the elders required medical intervention. This incident marks the latest in a series of pressures against the congregation, which has faced repeated raids and monitoring since a major crackdown in 2018 that resulted in the imprisonment of Pastor Wang Yi. Despite ongoing government scrutiny, the church reports a membership of over 500 people.