In the early hours of the morning, Gao Yingjia and his wife, Geng Pengpeng, found themselves thrust into a situation that would change their lives forever. Around 2 a.m., as they hid in a friend’s home in a Beijing suburb, a group of plain-clothed men, claiming to be police officers, arrived to apprehend Gao. Their young son was asleep upstairs, and the couple aimed to keep the disturbance to a minimum, fully aware that their time was running out. Two months later, Gao is now in a detention facility in Guangxi province facing charges of “illegal use of information networks,” an action viewed as part of a sweeping crackdown on Christianity in China, the most significant since 2018.
Human rights groups and the U.S. government have raised alarms, suggesting this crackdown could spell the end for unofficial churches in China. Geng, who managed to flee overseas with their son, expressed the difficulty of their situation. “We both knew that as Christians in China, there were risks,” she reflected, emphasizing the emotional turmoil of balancing faith and family safety.
Gao is a senior pastor at Zion Church, a leading underground church in China with thousands of followers. The church has faced immense pressure, culminating in Gao’s arrest along with a dozen other church leaders. The recent wave of detentions has raised fears among Christians across the nation, as similar raids were reported in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, where over 100 individuals were arrested, highlighting the systemic targeting of Christian groups.
The situation is particularly dire for those impacted. Geng is faced with challenging decisions about her next steps: should she return to China to support her husband despite the risks or remain in Thailand, a country with a history of cooperating with Beijing regarding deportations? Her faith has grown resilient, yet she is in search of clarity on what to do next.
Among those detained is Jin Mingri, the founder of Zion Church, who, along with Gao, has become a symbol of the challenges faced by underground churches in the current climate. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, publicly condemned the crackdown and demanded the release of those church leaders, urging the Chinese government to allow the freedom to worship without the threat of punishment.
China officially recognizes five religions but mandates that religious activities occur only within sanctioned institutions. House churches like Zion have historically thrived in secrecy, often resorting to creative solutions to evade surveillance. Following a nationwide crackdown in 2018, which resulted in the closure of physical church spaces, Zion had adapted by combining online sermons with small gathering efforts.
Experts suggest that the government’s current crackdown seeks to reassert control. Following years of unofficial growth in Christian communities, recent events demonstrate a shift, with increasing pressures evident throughout the year on various churches across China. Marginalized congregations have reported police interventions, and the harsh consequences being faced by church leaders signal a troubling trend for religious freedoms.
Notably, the numbers of Christians in China appear stable based on official statistics, yet there is speculation that the actual figure may be higher due to the cautious nature of self-identifying amidst an oppressive environment. In the past few years, Zion Church saw significant growth, but recent developments have cast a shadow over its future. With faith still a driving force for many, these trials may instead ignite a resurgence of belief among the persecuted, as leaders like Jin Mingri have expressed hope for a revival even in the face of arrest.
As the situation unfolds, the resilience of China’s underground churches continues to be tested, with communities rallying to support one another in these perilous times, showcasing an enduring spirit against overwhelming odds.