Arrested Again After Eight Years in Prison: Early Rain Member Chen Yunfei Seized in Chengdu Authorities in Chengdu’s Wenjiang District formally arrested Early Rain Covenant Church member and veteran dissident Chen Yunfei on September 23 on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” His detention began in August in Gansu Province; when administrative custody expired on August 17, Subei officers transferred him to Chengdu police instead of releasing him. Relatives received no written notice. Chen, a participant in the 1989 democracy movement, was freed in March 2025 after a four-year sentence—his second imprisonment since 2015, totaling roughly eight years. Despite surveillance, a January assault, and pressure to relocate, he continued Early Rain prayer gatherings and community service until this latest seizure amid the church’s ongoing crackdown. Stand with Chen Yunfei and Early Rain believers. Share their story, pray for their release, and defend religious freedom in China today. Read Now #ReligiousFreedom# #EarlyRainChurch# #ChinaPersecution# #ChenYunfei# #HouseChurchCrackdown# @chenyunfei8964

Life-or-Death Alarm: Imprisoned Early Rain Pastor Reportedly Has Advanced Liver Cancer ChinaAid has raised an urgent health alarm after receiving reports that Pastor Wang Yi, founder of Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church, may be suffering from advanced liver cancer inside Jintang Prison. Detained in December 2018 and sentenced in 2019 to nine years for “inciting subversion” and “illegal business operations,” Wang remains a U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom prisoner of conscience. Independent verification is impossible amid severe restrictions; his wife, Jiang Rong, has had only one known visit since 2018, in October 2021. Demand transparency now: urge authorities to grant Wang Yi’s family access and independent medical care before secrecy costs a life. Read Now #FreeWangYi# #ReligiousFreedom# #ChinaAid# #EarlyRainChurch# #PrisonerOfConscience#

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#