News: Dozens Detained Including Children in Raid on Chinese House Church in Chengdu

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, Chinese authorities conducted a large-scale raid on the Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Chengdu during their morning worship service, detaining more than 30 believers, including several children and church elders. The raid, which involved approximately 70 police officers and government officials, interrupted the service at a local hotel venue and led to the interrogation of congregants across multiple police stations. This incident marks one of the most significant crackdowns on an unregistered house church in recent memory, sparking an urgent global prayer alert from the church and human rights watchdogs like ChinaAid and Bitter Winter.

The Sunday Morning Raid in Chengdu

The raid began at approximately 11:00 a.m. while members of the Early Rain Covenant Church were gathered for their weekly worship. Witnesses report that a massive force of uniformed and plainclothes officers stormed the hotel meeting room, halting the service mid-prayer. The authorities cited "illegal religious activities" as the justification for the intervention, a common charge used against churches that refuse to register with the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

According to reports confirmed by ChinaAid and the International Christian Concern (ICC), the atmosphere was one of intense pressure. Believers were ordered to stop singing, and their personal belongings, including cell phones and Bibles, were confiscated. The detention was not limited to adult leadership; notably, several children were taken into custody along with their parents, a tactic that human rights advocates say is designed to maximize psychological distress on the community.

While many of the detainees were released after hours of interrogation, some were held longer and pressured to sign "guarantee letters" promising to sever ties with the church. The scale of this operation suggests a pre-planned effort to dismantle the remaining infrastructure of one of China’s most resilient house churches.

Why Early Rain Covenant Church is Targeted

The Early Rain Covenant Church has long been a focal point of religious persecution in China. Founded by Pastor Wang Yi: who is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for "inciting subversion of state power": the church has consistently stood for the independence of the church from state control.

This latest raid is not an isolated event but part of a multi-year campaign to silence ERCC. Since the major crackdown in December 2018, the congregation has faced:

• Constant surveillance and police monitoring.

• Evictions from rented spaces and private homes.

• Job losses and social credit penalties for members.

• Repeated short-term detentions of elders and lay leaders.

The church’s refusal to go "underground" in the traditional sense: maintaining a public witness despite the risks: has made it a symbol of faith and defiance. For the Chinese authorities, ERCC represents a challenge to the "Sinicization of religion," a policy under Xi Jinping that seeks to bring all religious practice under the strict ideological control of the Communist Party.

The Pressure on Families and Children

Perhaps the most distressing aspect of the June 14 raid was the intentional targeting of families. Detaining children is a significant escalation in the authorities’ tactics. By bringing minors into police stations for questioning, the state sends a clear message: no one is safe, and your faith will impact your children’s future.

In many house church communities across China, parents are warned that their religious activities could lead to their children being barred from higher education or government jobs. Despite these threats, the parents of ERCC have remained steadfast. They believe that teaching their children the truth of the Gospel is a responsibility that outweighs the temporal risks of state pressure.

Global Watchdogs Sound the Alarm

Watchdog groups have been quick to respond to the news. Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights, noted that the intensity of the June 14 raid reflects a broader nationwide tightening of religious restrictions. ChinaAid founder Bob Fu has called on the international community to keep a close watch on the situation in Chengdu, noting that the "coordinated operation" began even before the Sunday raid, with reports of increased surveillance and harassment in the days leading up to June 14.

These organizations emphasize that the persecution in China is increasingly sophisticated, utilizing high-tech surveillance, facial recognition, and digital tracking to monitor believers. The fact that ERCC continues to gather and grow despite these obstacles is being hailed as a testament to the strength of the Chinese house church movement.

How to Pray for Our Brothers and Sisters

As a ministry, we believe that our primary weapon in the face of such injustice is prayer. The Early Rain Covenant Church has issued an urgent request for the global body of Christ to stand with them. Here is how we can specifically pray:

1. For the Detainees: Pray for those who are still facing interrogation or remain in custody. Ask God to give them peace that passes understanding and the courage to remain faithful (Philippians 4:7).

2. For the Children: Pray for the hearts of the children who witnessed the raid. Ask the Lord to protect them from trauma and to use this experience to strengthen their young faith.

3. For Pastor Wang Yi: Continue to pray for the church's pastor in prison. Pray for his health, his spirit, and his eventual release.

4. For the Authorities: In obedience to Scripture, we pray for those who persecute (Matthew 5:44). We ask that the hearts of the officers in Chengdu would be softened and that they would encounter the love of Christ.

5. For Spiritual Resilience: Pray that the church in Chengdu would not be discouraged but would see this as a participation in the sufferings of Christ, knowing that their labor is not in vain.

Standing Together in Faith

At Layne McDonald Ministries, we are committed to sharing these stories because the global church is one body. When one part suffers, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). The courage shown by the believers in Chengdu is a profound reminder that the Gospel is worth everything.

If you are currently walking through your own season of trial or feeling overwhelmed by the weight of global events, we have resources to help you find your "True North" in Christ. Whether you are dealing with anxiety, seeking spiritual growth through our books, or looking for leadership coaching, we are here to support your journey.

Let’s continue to lift up our brothers and sisters in China. Their story is not over, and God is still on the throne.

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