A church was raided by Chinese police during a Sunday service on 31st October. 

According to China Aid, the pastor Fang Xiaojun and four members of the congregation were taken away while other churchgoers had their personal information taken by police. 

This is not the first time the police have raided the Dao-en Presbyterian Church. In 2018, Tongshan District Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau interrupted the Sunday service of the church’s South Campus and issued a notice of administrative punishment to pastor Fang and preacher Ma Ben. Since then, the church has often been raided.

In August, the police interrupted a Sunday service that was taking place at a congregant’s home and arrested pastor Fang. 

A few days before pastor Fang’s church was raided, a pastor from Early Rain Covenant Church was pleading for prayers as he and his family are facing continued persecution by the authorities. 

Pastor Dai Zhichao has been summoned, detained, and beaten many times to dissuade him from leading Sunday services and prayer groups at Early Rain Covenant Church.

China Aid reported that the police has now rented the apartment next to pastor Dai’s to monitor the family closely. 

In a letter to Christians around the world, Early Rain Covenant Church said: “Please continue to pray for preacher Dai Zhichao’s family, and may they be satisfied with the peace of Christ in the siege of the wicked and in all kinds of blows and persecutions that seem legal and obviously illegal. Although the red paint on the door, the repeatedly blocked door locks, and the surveillance cameras pointed at the door still show the absurdity of this generation, may the nailed hand of Christ continue to guide the road ahead of them.”