by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
BEIJING (Worthy News) – Christians worldwide were urged to pray after Chinese police reportedly raided several house churches in the city of Yueyang in central China’s Hunan Province, detaining numerous believers in what advocacy groups described as the latest crackdown on unregistered congregations.
Numerous church members were taken into custody for interrogation following the July 11 raids, Christian advocates monitoring religious freedom in China told Worthy News.
“During the detainment, the authorities collected fingerprints, DNA samples, voice recordings and written statements,” advocacy group Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) said.
The interrogated Christians were also asked to read a prepared statement as part of a voice-identification process. “One woman with poor eyesight declined but was instead permitted to offer a prayer of blessing,” VOMC added.
CHURCH LEADERS STILL DETAINED
In comments shared with Worthy News, the wife of detained Pastor Huang Lei said Bibles and Christian books were confiscated during the raids.
Some of those questioned said they feared the interrogations could jeopardize their employment, with one teacher reportedly coming under pressure because of her family’s government ties.
Most of those detained were reportedly released within 24 to 48 hours. However, six Christians described as church leaders and ministry workers remained in custody, according to advocacy groups ChinaAid and VOMC. They include pastors, an elder, a preacher, and other ministry workers.
VOMC urged supporters to pray that “God’s protection, strength and peace will rest upon the members of these raided churches,” warning that the detained believers face the possibility of further repercussions because of their Christian faith.
CHRISTIANS UNDER PRESSURE
The raids come amid broader concerns that Chinese authorities are intensifying pressure on Christians and other religious groups under President Xi Jinping.
Independent “house churches” that refuse to register with the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement have faced increasing raids, closures, arrests, and surveillance in recent years. According to Christians released from custody in Yueyang, police claimed believers who refuse to join the state-approved church belong to a “cult,” an allegation church members strongly rejected.
Christian advocates say authorities have also demolished churches, removed crosses and other Christian symbols, restricted religious education for minors, tightened controls over online religious content, and required state-approved churches to display banners promoting Chinese Communist Party ideology and its policies on religion.
President Xi has repeatedly stressed that all religions in China must be “Sinicized” by aligning with Communist Party leadership and socialist values. Rights advocates say the policy has tightened state control over religious life and further restricted independent churches.
BROADER CRACKDOWN CONTINUES
The latest operation follows other high-profile crackdowns on independent congregations, including Beijing’s Zion Church, which authorities shut down in 2018 after its leaders refused to install facial-recognition cameras, and Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, whose members have faced repeated raids, arrests, and imprisonment.
The repression has also extended beyond churches.
Rights groups say authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on Muslim Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, where the United States and several other governments have accused Beijing of committing genocide and crimes against humanity—allegations Beijing strongly denies.
Advocacy group Open Doors ranks China 17th on its 2026 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution for their faith.
CHURCH CONTINUES TO GROW
Despite the ongoing crackdown, China is believed to have one of the world’s largest Christian populations.
Although Beijing publishes much lower figures, researchers estimate there are between 80 million and 130 million Christians in China, with some reports suggesting internal government assessments have reached similar conclusions.
The latest raids underscore the growing risks of worshipping outside state-approved churches, Christians say.
Yet despite mounting surveillance, arrests, and official pressure, observers say Christianity continues to grow across the world’s second-largest economy.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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