04/27/2021 China (International Christian Concern) – On April 21, police in Chengdu raided a residence where students from the heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) were being homeschooled. A total of 19 people, including the parents, teachers, and minors, were brought to a police station for interrogation.

According to China Aid, around 10 am, more than 10 police officers from Chengdu City Wenjiang District entered a residential compound, seizing four ERCC adult members and 12 adolescents while they were being homeschooled. They were taken to Wenjiang District, Yongning Sub-district Police Station.

The concerned parents called the police to inquire about the reasons for the detention and when their children will be released, only to receive a disrespectful response without details. The police were not interested in respecting the minors’ rights.

Police did not allow the detained to leave the police station until around 9 pm. Other three Christian brothers who live in the same condo were still detained and the police did not reveal the reason for their detention to family members.

In a prayer request shared publicly, ERCC stated that “[The police] do not understand our persistence, but Lord, You inquire us about the source of our hope through their mouth. Persecution is part of the Christian education, and this clearly shows the necessity of it.”

The church asked the Lord to help them cry out to Him more earnestly in their weakness, so His power can become their strength and hope.

For interviews, please contact Alison Garcia: press@persecution.org.