Politics · China · 12 hrs ago
Beijing house church pastor arrested on fraud charges
Pastor Xianfeng Edward Cui was arrested in Beijing on Oct.
23 on fraud charges, his wife said.
Cui founded Beijing Jiaquan Church, an unregistered congregation that has met in smaller groups since authorities sealed its worship facility in 2019.
His wife, Jin Young Gu, said the fraud allegations concern members’ offerings and may be linked to the church’s unregistered status.
Cui had first been detained on Sept.
4 during a raid involving about 100 police officers, Gu said.
The case comes amid China’s campaign to tighten control over religion and follows the 2025 arrests of 30 leaders of the underground Zion Church network.
Gu, who lives outside China, said she has been denied a visa to return since 2023; the authorities have not publicly responded to questions about Cui’s case.
Pastor Xianfeng Edward Cui of Beijing Jiaquan Church was arrested on Oct. 23 on fraud charges, his wife told The Associated Press.
His wife, Jin Young Gu, said the allegations concern offerings from church members.
Gu said Cui was first detained on Sept. 4 during a raid involving around 100 police officers.
The church is unregistered, and Gu said authorities had previously warned the couple about its size and organization.
Beijing Jiaquan Church was founded in 2006 and has faced restrictions on where and how its congregation could meet.
- Who
- Pastor Xianfeng Edward Cui, founder of Beijing Jiaquan Church.
- What
- He was arrested on fraud charges. His wife said the allegations concern church members’ offerings.
- When
- Oct. 23; the article was published on Nov. 9, 2026.
- Where
- Beijing, China.
- Why
- His wife said the charges relate to offerings from church members and are likely connected to the church being unregistered.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Beijing Jiaquan Church was founded.
Authorities sealed off the church’s worship facility, and the congregation began meeting in smaller groups and at different locations, Gu said.
Authorities interrupted a Sunday church class and warned Gu and Cui that the church had become too large, Gu said.
Cui was detained during a raid on the church involving around 100 police officers, Gu said.
Cui was arrested on fraud charges, Gu said.
- Pastor
- Xianfeng Edward Cui
- Church
- Beijing Jiaquan Church
- Arrest date
- Oct. 23
- First detained
- Sept. 4
- Raid size
- Around 100 police officers
- Church founded
- 2006
What people are saying
They told him that he should lead only one church with fewer than 100 people.
This was a direct warning from the authorities concerning the size and organization of our church.