Last Friday, Grace Jin Drexel received a text from her father in China, the prominent pastor Jin Mingri, telling her to pray for another pastor who had gone missing. Shortly after that, she received a call from her mother, saying she couldn't contact her father. Within hours, it became clear that Jin had also been caught up in what activists describe as China's largest arrest of Christians in decades.
This weekend's crackdown, targeting 30 Christians tied to the Zion Church network, has raised alarms about a potential wider initiative against underground churches across the nation. New laws seem to be geared towards curbing these religious activities, with increasing pressure from authorities seen throughout the recent months.
Despite the Chinese Communist Party's presence, a significant Christian population exists in China, with estimates suggesting about 38 million Protestants and nearly six million Catholics, although these figures are believed to exclude many unregistered church attendees. Rights activists claim that tens of millions practice within underground or house churches, which do not comply with state-sanctioned regulations.
Over the years, various tactics have emerged, including the demolition of church buildings, removal of crosses, and heightened scrutiny over religious materials. The government has issued stricter regulations on religious gatherings, further complicating the operational landscape for underground churches.
On the heels of the latest arrests, there was a feeling among many members of these underground communities that heightened scrutiny was a prelude to an extensive crackdown. Last Friday, authorities executed a coordinated sweep across at least 10 cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, detaining church leaders and members.
A copy of an official detention notice for Pastor Jin, detailing his current location and the charges against him, has raised further concerns on the legality of such crackdowns. While some arrested members have been released, most remain incarcerated with unclear prospects for their future.
Advocacy groups have noted the unprecedented nature of this arrest campaign. This crackdown might be a strategy to intimidate other underground churches, historical patterns suggesting that suppression leads to resilience and revival in faith practices. Some church representatives expressed a firm belief that underground churches like Zion will continue to thrive despite the repressive measures from the state.
This weekend's crackdown, targeting 30 Christians tied to the Zion Church network, has raised alarms about a potential wider initiative against underground churches across the nation. New laws seem to be geared towards curbing these religious activities, with increasing pressure from authorities seen throughout the recent months.
Despite the Chinese Communist Party's presence, a significant Christian population exists in China, with estimates suggesting about 38 million Protestants and nearly six million Catholics, although these figures are believed to exclude many unregistered church attendees. Rights activists claim that tens of millions practice within underground or house churches, which do not comply with state-sanctioned regulations.
Over the years, various tactics have emerged, including the demolition of church buildings, removal of crosses, and heightened scrutiny over religious materials. The government has issued stricter regulations on religious gatherings, further complicating the operational landscape for underground churches.
On the heels of the latest arrests, there was a feeling among many members of these underground communities that heightened scrutiny was a prelude to an extensive crackdown. Last Friday, authorities executed a coordinated sweep across at least 10 cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, detaining church leaders and members.
A copy of an official detention notice for Pastor Jin, detailing his current location and the charges against him, has raised further concerns on the legality of such crackdowns. While some arrested members have been released, most remain incarcerated with unclear prospects for their future.
Advocacy groups have noted the unprecedented nature of this arrest campaign. This crackdown might be a strategy to intimidate other underground churches, historical patterns suggesting that suppression leads to resilience and revival in faith practices. Some church representatives expressed a firm belief that underground churches like Zion will continue to thrive despite the repressive measures from the state.
