Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church update: Four leaders detained for illegal activities

(Chengdu, Sichuan Province – September 9, 2024) According to the Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church, Elder Li Yingqiang, preacher Wu Wuqing, preacher Yan Hong, and deputy deacon Zeng Qingtao were summoned by the police from the Hongpailou Police Station in Wuhou District, Chengdu during the Sunday gathering on September 1, 2024. As of noon the next day, the Hongpailou Police Station had notified their families by phone: They were all detained for 14 days by the Wuhou District Public Security Bureau for “illegally carrying out activities in the name of social groups”, from September 2 to September 16, 2024. The detention location is Chengdu Detention Center (No. 3 Zhengyi Road, Pidu District).

Currently, none of the family members have received the administrative detention notice; yesterday, the family members went to the police station, and at their request, the police asked them to sign the summons to rectify their procedure. Elder Yan Hong’s name on the summons is Li Youhong; preacher Wu Wuqing’s wife is out of town, so she was not given a summons, but was informed by phone.

Preacher Wu Wuqing’s home has been without water and electricity for more than a month, and he can finally use water and electricity freely in the detention center; Elder Yan Hong was hospitalized for cerebral infarction two or three years ago and needs to take medication every day to control it; Elder Li Yingqiang was diagnosed with high blood pressure when receiving a medical examination during administrative detention at the end of last year; Deputy deacon Zeng Qingtao needs to take diabetes medication every day. Last night, the police notified Elder Yan Hong and deputy deacon Zeng Qingtao’s wives to send them medicine.

In an open prayer letter, the Early Rain Covenant Church thanked all churches and brothers and sisters for their prayers for their church; and prayed that God would continue to watch over the Early Rain Covenant Church and protect these four co-workers during their 14-day detention, so that their bodies and souls could rest and be filled with God’s grace.