Recent reports of persecution against domestic churches in China have been emerging, with a 20-year-old family church in Guangzhou being particularly targeted. Believers were forced to sign pledges not to attend gatherings, or else risk losing welfare benefits or being evicted from their homes. Some churches have even been sealed off by the police. The latest investigation report on Chinese domestic churches warns that “there is no safe haven for Christians in China.”
Analysts believe that the ruling Chinese Communist government, fearing that members of these churches may become anti-communist forces, are cracking down on them to prevent any dissent.
According to Pastor Ma Chao from Guangzhou, the Guanfu Church he founded 20 years ago has faced various forms of harassment and suppression from local authorities. They have been subjected to unreasonable demands, such as installing costly fire prevention equipment during their gatherings, which they cannot afford. Surveillance cameras have also been installed outside their meeting places to monitor believers and collect their personal information through big data analysis.
Mr. Hu, who is familiar with the situation of this family church, mentioned that since the church’s 10th-anniversary celebration in 2015, the authorities have intensified their crackdown by physically assaulting church members, confiscating church property, forcibly closing meeting places, and even illegally detaining the pastor multiple times. The church decided not to hold public events for its 20th-anniversary commemoration in 2025 to avoid provoking the authorities, but the situation remains bleak.
Recently, local officials visited believers with “assurance letters” pressuring them to sign, threatening to cut off welfare benefits and using their children as leverage. Despite Elder Zhang’s refusal to sign, some believers compromised under pressure, leading to a significant decrease in Sunday service attendance.
The authorities are reportedly seeking to completely shut down the Guanfu Church. Pastor Ma remains steadfast, stating, “Throughout history, missionaries and pastors have faced martyrdom and imprisonment. I am no exception. With the Lord’s permission, I am prepared to face whatever comes, whether it’s imprisonment or martyrdom, alongside my brothers and sisters in the church.”
Renowned overseas media personality and writer, Ms. Sheng Xue, recently shared on Twitter about another family church being raided by the police, where everyone was required to hand over their identification documents, potentially facing arrest.
In China, apart from government-controlled churches, most independent churches’ gatherings are deemed “illegal religious activities” by the authorities, especially under Xi Jinping’s tightening religious policies. Tactics include mandatory real-name registration and identity tracking, as police presence during gatherings is used to build a database for monitoring and summons, potentially blacklisting individuals.
Criminalizing faith, pastors and elders are often sentenced on charges of disturbing social order, illegal operations, or subverting state power for leading services.
Technological suppression involves the use of surveillance cameras, facial recognition technology, and big data analysis to pinpoint locations of family gatherings.
Intimidation and disruption tactics include sudden raids during gatherings, temporary arrests, which, although seemingly minor, create a climate of fear among believers, damaging family and community relationships.
Ms. Sheng concluded that such incidents are becoming more frequent and brutal, as the Chinese authorities remain vigilant against any potential anti-communist activities posed by believers.
A report by the “International Christian Concerns” on August 27 states that there is no longer any safe space for Christians to gather in China, affecting both official and underground churches.
The organization’s latest report tracks persecution against Chinese Christians since July 2021, documenting 32 arrest incidents, 5 raids on Christian schools, and 20 cases of churches being forced to align their beliefs with the Chinese Communist Party’s social and political propaganda.
Additionally, online magazine “Bitter Winter,” which focuses on Chinese religious freedom and human rights issues, highlighted in an article on March 25 that the crackdown on family churches, dissident Catholics, and emerging religious groups in China reached a new peak in 2024. Public security agencies even openly celebrated operations against so-called “cult” groups.
According to a rights advocacy network, at least 42 Christian (including Catholic) pastors and workers are still detained in mainland China as of May this year. Chinese Christians are often convicted of “illegal business operations” and “fraud” charges.