Chapter 5: Responses from Church Communities and Families
In the wave of persecution in 2025, the families of Chinese house churches, especially the spouses of arrested pastors and coworkers, endured immense life pressure and spiritual burdens, while demonstrating profound persistence in faith and a kingdom vision.
Based on testimonies from various regions, the typical situations faced by families include:
- Unstable Housing: Forced to move frequently, landlords pressured to terminate contracts, long-term homelessness;
- Continuous Surveillance: Cameras installed at doorways, vehicles and communication devices located, followed when going out;
- No Legal Recourse: Long-term failure to receive official documents, complaints and appeals repeatedly shelved or even met with intimidation;
- Economic Pressure: Main breadwinners detained, household income sharply reduced, high costs for lawyers and travel;
- Physical and Mental Exhaustion: Caring for the elderly, raising children, and handling legal affairs all weighing on one person;
- Spiritual Rebuilding: Relearning to interpret suffering with prayer and truth amidst doubt and fear.
These situations and responses are detailed below through several dimensions.
I. Persistent Life Difficulties and Harassment
Families in multiple cases suffered forced eviction and systematic harassment.
1. Forced Eviction and Housing Insecurity
Brother Wang Qiang of Covenant Home Church in Linfen, Shanxi, was notified by his landlord to move out before Christmas under pressure immediately after being released from 1 year and 11 months of detention.[1] Sister Li Shanshan and Sister Chen Ying, wife of Pastor Han Xiaodong of Linfen, also experienced forced eviction.[2] Amidst great sorrow, they still had to maintain basic living, such as kneading dough and cooking for their children with tears in their eyes.
Since June 2025, the family of Pastor Wang Lin of Zion Church has been under continuous pressure due to their faith and the pastor's identity, forced to stay in 6-7 cities within 4 months with two children. Shimu Su Ziming described in a prayer letter: "Every time we just settled down in a place, we were forced by various secret means and could not continue to live in peace... We rented a house, the landlord was pressured; we bought a house, even if the contract was signed and the deposit paid, it was terminated because the landlord was threatened."[3] The children have been out of school to this day due to pressure on schools. Even worse, on November 10, when Shimu Su Ziming prepared to take the children out of the country to find a school, she was restricted from leaving the country (border control) by the Beihai Public Security Bureau on the grounds of "suspected illegal use of information networks," shattering the last hope for the children's education.
2. Illegal Surveillance and Personal Fear
Shimu Xu Chao, wife of Pastor Zhang Sen of Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, disclosed that since 2021, their family has been continuously driven away, harassed, slandered, threatened, and followed. Surveillance cameras were installed at their door, locators were installed on electric bikes and cars, and positioning and listening devices were installed on mobile phones and computers. Sister Chen Ying, wife of Pastor Han Xiaodong of Linfen Covenant Home Church, and Sister Li Shanshan were guarded, followed, and secretly photographed by community personnel and "mysterious men in black." They were full of fear for their personal safety, not even daring to go out to buy groceries, worrying about being kidnapped or "disappeared."
3. Injustice in Legal Procedures
Families faced heavy resistance when seeking legal avenues. For example, in the Zion case, families of arrested pastors went to the Procuratorate, Public Security Bureau, Discipline Inspection Commission, and other institutions to submit complaint materials according to the law, accusing law enforcement officers of suspected abuse of power, illegal search, and other illegal acts. However, they still encountered intimidation and obstruction when dealing with basic procedures such as detention notices. Some families of detained pastors did not even receive any detention notice.
II. Emotional Trauma and Resilience of Faith
Families endured great pain spiritually and emotionally, but also responded to challenges with faith, regarding suffering as a mark of God's grace.
1. Huge Physical and Mental Exhaustion
Many Shimus (pastors' wives) were physically and mentally exhausted due to long-term running around, worrying, and shouldering childcare and legal affairs alone. Shimu Su Ziming, wife of Pastor Wang Lin of Zion Church, saw her weight drop to just over 80 jin (approx. 40 kg). Ren Zhong, husband of Pastor Wang Cong, had to take care of his three-year-old daughter who missed her mother while suffering from an injured ankle, physically and mentally exhausted. Pastor Sun Cong's mother suffered a recurrence of heart disease and collapsed from fright after witnessing her son being taken away. The children's childhood suffered indelible damage, and young children were mentally devastated by the lack of security and longing for their fathers.
2. Transformation of Spiritual Perspective
Facing tribulation, many families regarded this as the grace of "suffering for Christ." In his prison letter, Pastor Zhou Songlin stated that persecution is part of the faith of saints throughout the ages and cannot be missing; it makes the church healthier and stronger, allowing believers to experience God's reality and abundance. Shimu Xiaoyu, wife of Pastor Sun Cong of Zion Church, mentioned in a family letter that the external storm stimulated deep reverence in her heart. She felt life breaking out of a cocoon like a butterfly,[4] breaking through the crisis of trust and self-limitation, being released in truth and love, and believing that her husband's trial was bearing many seeds.
3. Evangelistic Testimony
Families persisted in defending their faith and calling for justice amidst difficulties. They realized that their suffering confirmed that they were a graced community belonging to Christ. They also prayed for brothers and sisters and lawyers who were about to go to court, wishing for the Lord's glory to be manifested in the courtroom. Pastor Huang Yizi's wife quoted Bible verses, emphasizing that suffering for Christ is part of believers' grace, and firmly believed that prayer could bring healing, comfort, joy, hope, courage, and strength.
III. Kingdom Support and Visitation Mechanisms of the Church
Facing systematic persecution, the Chinese house church demonstrated a strong sense of kingdom unity and support network, among which the "5PM in China" Kingdom Prayer Meeting became an important connection point and watch platform.
1. "5PM in China" Kingdom Prayer Meeting
Core Function and Belief: The prayer meeting invites believers to pray together for Christians who are bound and mistreated, citing Hebrews 13:3, emphasizing "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them." The prayer meeting believes that the Lord's grace comes from heaven, high walls cannot block it; the body is bound, but the soul cannot be bound; suffering for Christ, moving forward for the gospel, may the Lord's kingdom revive.
Operation Mode and Scale: The prayer meeting is held daily from 5:00-5:30 PM (Beijing time) in the form of an online conference (ZOOM meeting ID is the same or updated daily). The number of participating devices is usually between 300 and 450, showing widespread participation.
Information Gathering and Intercession Focus: The prayer meeting updates information on church cases across the country in a timely manner, including Linfen Covenant Home Church, Nanchang House Church, Guiyang Ren'ai Reformed Church, Anhui Fuyang Maizhong Reformed Church, Xi'an Light of Zion Church, and the "October 9 Zion Case" in 2025. It has become a cross-regional, cross-church system center for watching and information release. As initiator Elder Li Yingqiang said: "What is truly important is not the power or rights cared about by the early rights defense movement, but the gospel itself."[5] He views "5PM in China" as the beginning of the "next thirty years" for house churches, hoping to condense and inspire more house churches to stand up in this era.
2. Practical Support and Care Principles for Families
Elder Li Yingqiang believes that support for families must be long-term, comprehensive, and planned. The primary responsibility is companionship and watching, letting them know they are not forgotten.[6]
Economic Assumption is an unshirkable responsibility of the church, including bearing legal fees and continuing to supply family living needs. After the Zion case occurred, the church called on members to remember these families in prayer and provide financial support to cope with challenges such as housing being sealed and families running around to take care of children.
Wise Care: Remind brothers and sisters to be considerate of the families' fatigue when visiting or calling, not to use "spiritual high profile" to exert pressure, and to ask in advance if it is convenient, avoiding extra burdens on physically and mentally exhausted families.
Spiritual and Information Security: Help families distinguish the truthfulness of information, assist in finding reliable Christian lawyers, and pray together to seek wisdom to deal with the authorities' "means" or "strategies."
3. Public Watch and Joint Solidarity Among Churches
On October 9, 2025, Beijing Zion Church encountered the largest scale of persecution since 2018, known as the "10.9 Zion Case." Authorities acted simultaneously in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and other places, arresting 28 pastors and coworkers including Pastor Jin Mingri.
Facing this severe situation, Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church took the lead in issuing the "Statement of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church on the Beijing Zion Church '10.9 Case'" on October 11. This was the first public solidarity from an external church after Zion Church issued a public prayer letter, reflecting the deep connection of "suffering together" in Christ.
The statement solemnly declared: "We are of one heart and mind with Beijing Zion Church in Christ, standing side by side. We are the flock fed by the same Great Shepherd Jesus Christ... Today, the suffering of Zion Church is the suffering of the entire Chinese house church, and also the suffering of the universal body of Christ."
This statement is not only support for Zion Church but also a reaffirmation of the identity of the "Chinese House Church" community, indicating that in the face of persecution, churches are no longer isolated atoms but members sharing the same destiny.
In addition, Pastor Cao Yuan of Guangzhou Lamb's Home Church also issued a "Statement on the '10.9 Zion Case'",[7] expressing firm support for persecuted members. These public solidarities from churches in different regions jointly wove a spiritual support network across regions.
IV. Support Models of Overseas Churches and NGOs
Facing the persecution situation of Chinese house churches, overseas Chinese churches and international NGOs responded with prayer, solidarity, and practical aid, reflecting the connection of the universal body of Christ. Cross-denominational joint prayer movements (such as the outdoor morning prayer meeting held by Vancouver Truth Baptist Church in Canada for fifteen consecutive years[8]) and continuous advocacy by NGOs (such as ChinaAid's annual report and legal aid) together constitute the two pillars of overseas support. After the Zion case occurred, the political attention of the international community warmed up significantly, and governments and institutions of many countries spoke out successively, as detailed in Chapter 6.
V. Watchful Prayer and Spiritual Response
In the context of persecution, the Chinese house church has developed a resilient view of faith centered on "theology of suffering" and a clear view of church mission.
1. Theology of Suffering and the Mark of the Cross
Suffering for Righteousness is a Blessing: Christians believe that being persecuted for righteousness is a great blessing given by God. Persecution is a path that Christians must take, suffering together with Christ. Persecution allows believers to share in Christ's suffering; it is the Lord's way of cleansing and refining the church, capable of sifting out false believers and making the church purer.
Hope in Suffering: Pastors in prison regard suffering as a baptism of life, making them fear God more deeply amidst fear. They believe that God's sovereignty is higher than all earthly authorities, and believe that persecution cannot destroy the church but will instead bring revival and closer connection.
ChinaAid, "With Adults Away, CCP Police Forcibly Enter Home of Preacher Li Jie of Linfen Covenant Home Church, 7-Year-Old Child Frightened," ChinaAid, December 22, 2024, accessed December 1, 2025, https://www.chinaaid.net/2024/12/blog-post_22.html. ↩︎
ChinaAid, "Many Squatting at Doorstep! Husband Preacher Li Jie Detained, Wife Li Shanshan Encounters Forced Eviction by Shanxi Authorities Again," ChinaAid, March 1, 2025, accessed December 1, 2025, http://www.chinaaid.net/2025/03/blog-post_6.html. ↩︎
"5PM in China" Kingdom Prayer Meeting, "[Kingdom Prayer Information Update · Zion Church] Prayer Letter from Pastor Wang Lin's Wife, Shimu Su Ziming," Telegram, November 13, 2025, accessed December 1, 2025, https://t.me/China5PM/2973. ↩︎
"5PM in China" Kingdom Prayer Meeting, "[Kingdom Prayer Information Update · Zion Church] Letter from Pastor Sun Cong's Wife, Shimu Xiaoyu, to Brothers and Sisters (Third Family Letter)," Telegram, October 18, 2025, accessed December 1, 2025, https://t.me/China5PM/2779. ↩︎
Yu Shenlin, "Faithful Disobedience: The Floating and Sinking Record of Chinese House Churches," Women for China (Substack), September 30, 2025, accessed December 1, 2025, https://women4china.substack.com/p/house-church-in-china. ↩︎
Sheng Feng Ping Lun, "[Kingdom Interview] Elder Li Yingqiang of Early Rain Covenant Church Discusses '10.9 Zion Case' (Series Part 3)," Telegram, October 27, 2025, accessed December 1, 2025, https://t.me/shengfengpinglun/105. ↩︎
"5PM in China" Kingdom Prayer Meeting, "Statement by Pastor Cao Yuan of Guangzhou Lamb's Home Church Regarding '10.9 Zion Case'," Telegram, October 12, 2025, accessed December 1, 2025, https://t.me/China5PM/2682. ↩︎
ChinaAid, "'Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with Chengdu Early Rain in Tribulation, Walking with Beijing Shouwang in Wind and Rain': Vancouver Truth Baptist Church Holds Outdoor Morning Prayer Meeting for 15 Consecutive Years," ChinaAid, December 14, 2024, accessed December 1, 2025, https://www.chinaaid.net/2024/12/blog-post_14.html. ↩︎