Chinese Authorities Detain Early Rain Covenant Church Members in Escalating Crackdown

Detentions Target Early Rain Covenant Church Leaders

Chinese authorities initiated a coordinated operation on January 6, 2026, detaining several leaders and members of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, with actions extending to Deyang City. The detentions are part of an intensified campaign against unregistered Christian groups across China. As of January 12, the whereabouts of some individuals remain unclear.

Among those detained were Li Yingqiang, the current leader of the church, and his wife, Zhang Xinyue, both taken from their home in Deyang. Other prominent members taken into custody include Pastor Dai Zhichao, Deputy Deacon Jia Xuewei, and church member Ye Fenghua. Reports from ChinaAid and Human Rights Watch indicate that at least six individuals remained in custody as of January 9, with some facing suspicion of 'inciting subversion of state power'. Pastor Dai Zhichao is reportedly held at the Deyang City Detention Center, while a church member identified only as 'Lin' is at the Zhongjiang Detention Center. The locations of Li Yingqiang, Zhang Xinyue, Ye Fenghua, and Jia Xuewei are largely undisclosed.

Background of Persecution Against Unregistered Churches

The Early Rain Covenant Church, founded in 2008, is one of China's most well-known unofficial 'house churches,' which operate outside state control. Its refusal to register with the state and incorporate the 'core socialist values' of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) into its services has made it a frequent target of authorities. The church's founding pastor, Wang Yi, a prominent legal scholar and human rights activist, was arrested in 2018 and subsequently sentenced in 2019 to nine years in prison for 'inciting subversion of state power' and 'illegal business operations.'

This latest wave of detentions follows warnings from police in the previous year that there would be 'no leeway' for unlicensed churches in 2026. Human Rights Watch researcher Yalkun Uluyol stated, 'The Chinese government has ushered in the new year with new arrests of underground Protestant church members.' The US Congress' Select Committee on China also commented on the arrests, noting that Early Rain was targeted because it refused 'to bow' to the CCP.

Broader Crackdown on Religious Freedom in China

The detentions of Early Rain Covenant Church members are part of a wider, intensifying crackdown on religious freedom under President Xi Jinping's push for the 'Sinicization of religion.' This policy mandates that religions adapt to 'socialist society' and align with the Party's ideology. Unregistered religious groups face increasing pressure, with new regulations banning unauthorized online religious content and restricting religious activities outside state-sanctioned venues.

Recent months have seen similar actions against other prominent unofficial churches:

• In October 2025, 18 senior members of the Zion Church were detained in a nationwide sweep.
• Between December 13 and 18, 2025, approximately 100 members of the Yayang Church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, were reportedly arrested, with dozens remaining in detention.
• On January 5, 2026, the Yayang Church building was reportedly surrounded by hundreds of armed police and heavy machinery, with suspicions of demolition.

Human rights organizations continue to call for the immediate release of those detained for their religious beliefs, emphasizing China's obligations under international human rights law.