A Newborn, a Dying Father, a Missing Pastor: Beijing’s Latest Crackdown on Faith As Washington and Beijing prepare for a September summit, Chinese authorities are widening their pressure on house churches. Early Rain Covenant Church’s Elder Li Yingqiang and Preacher Dai Zhichao face a returned “subversion” case; Vice Deacon Jia Xuewei was arrested, and Elder Yan Hong was taken twice in one week. Dai’s postpartum wife (@LindaLuhwfe) was ordered to delete an essay defending him; her WeChat account was banned when she refused. Beijing Zion Elder Wang Zhong was denied bail as his father died. Pastor Wang Sanyuan, 73, has been missing for months. Other ministers in Yunnan and Wenzhou remain detained. Read Now Pray for detained pastors and families. Share this report. Write for the imprisoned. Defend religious freedom in China now. #ChinaHouseChurches# #ReligiousFreedom# #EarlyRainChurch# #PersecutedChurch# #ChinaAid#

Chinese Pastors Sentenced for Hosting Weddings and Home Worship Three leaders of Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui Province, were sentenced on August 10 to prison terms of up to one year and seven months for “organizing illegal gatherings.” Zhang Sensen received one year and seven months, Chang Shun one year and six months, and Ma Shutao one year and four months. Prosecutors cited home worship, weddings, and religious instruction after authorities shut the independent congregation in 2023. Families condemned the verdicts, noting the men were punished for ordinary pastoral work. Wives reported threats against them and their children during interrogations. ChinaAid President Bob Fu called the sentences part of a broader campaign treating unregistered Christian worship as criminal under Xi Jinping’s Sinicization policy. ChinaAid demands their immediate release. Stand with China’s persecuted believers—share this story, pray for Zhang, Chang, and Ma, and urge governments to hold Beijing accountable. Read Now #ChinaHouseChurchPersecution# #FreeMaizhongLeaders# #ReligiousFreedomChina# #AnhuiChurchCrackdown# #DefendChristianFaith# We are praying for you and your families: @MZ2025629 @pnwng188585 @lmi975123390297