Archive · 7 Jan 2026
China detains six underground church members
In China, six members of an underground Protestant church called the Early Rain Covenant Church were detained by the police.
This church is not officially recognized by the government and meets in secret.
The detentions happened in the city of Chengdu.
The church has been targeted before, with its founder, Wang Yi, sentenced to nine years in prison in 2018.
The Chinese government has been increasing its control over religious groups, making it difficult for unregistered churches to operate.
Human rights groups are calling for the release of the detained members.
Six members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, including its current leader Li Yingqiang, were detained by police in Chengdu, China.
The detentions are part of a broader crackdown on unregistered religious groups by the Chinese government.
The Early Rain Covenant Church is an influential underground Protestant church with an estimated 500 members.
The church's founder, Wang Yi, was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2018 on subversion charges.
Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, are calling for the immediate release of the detained members.
- Who
- Six members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, including current leader Li Yingqiang
- What
- Detention by police
- When
- January 7, 2024
- Where
- Chengdu, China
- Why
- Part of a crackdown on unregistered religious groups
- Church Name
- Early Rain Covenant Church
- Location
- Chengdu, China
- Date of Detention
- January 7, 2024
- Number of Detainees
- 6
- Church Founder
- Wang Yi
- Church Establishment Year
- 2008
- Estimated Church Members
- More than 500