Pastor, Six Christians Disappear After Police Raid in China

A Chinese pastor and six other Christians have reportedly disappeared after being detained by police during a cross-provincial operation in Shanghai.

Pastor David Tang, founder of Wenzhou’s Purpose Driven Church, also known as Biaogan Church, was among seven Christians detained on August 5, according to ChinaAid. A church financial administrator and five ministry workers from Shanghai were also reportedly taken into custody. Their whereabouts and the reasons for their detention remained undisclosed as of August 7.

Purpose Driven Church has attracted young professionals and intellectuals in Wenzhou. The congregation previously refused to join China’s state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement or register with the government. Although authorities forcibly closed the church, members have continued to meet in a semi-underground setting.

ChinaAid President Bob Fu described the incident as part of what he considers an escalating crackdown on independent Christian churches in China.

According to Fu, authorities have increasingly avoided directly accusing Christian leaders of religious offences, instead relying on criminal or economic allegations such as fraud, “illegal business operations” and “illegal use of information networks.” 

The latest detention comes amid broader restrictions on Christianity in Wenzhou, a southeastern Chinese city often referred to as the “Jerusalem of China” because of its large Christian population.

In recent years, authorities have intensified monitoring of independent churches in the region. ChinaAid reports that surveillance equipment has been installed in churches, officials have monitored sermons and attendance, and restrictions have been imposed on children, teenagers, university students and civil servants participating in religious activities.

The pressure on independent churches has also included arrests and demolitions. At Yayang Church in Taishun County, more than 20 church leaders and members were reportedly arrested after objecting to the installation of a national flag inside the church. The church was subsequently demolished.

As of the publication of the report, public security authorities in Shanghai and Wenzhou had not publicly explained the detention of Tang and the six other Christians.

ChinaAid also reported that information about the arrests had been heavily censored, with online users reportedly prevented from reposting reports concerning Christian persecution.

The organisation has called on Chinese authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the seven detainees, ensure that they have access to lawyers and their families, and release them unconditionally.