12/12/2023 China (International Christian Concern) — Members of the Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Chengdu continues to face harassment from local authorities, according to a report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). 

On Dec. 9, ERCC members planned an online prayer meeting to commemorate the 2018 crackdown on ERCC and other unregistered churches (house churches). However, reports have emerged that ERCC members were subjected to stalking, police pressure, personal threats, and other harassment to prevent them from joining the prayer meeting. Some church leaders were detained the next day and are still in jail. 

This news comes five years after more than 100 church members were arrested, including pastor Wang Yi, who is still in prison today. CSW, ICC, and other persecution ministries have been following the persecution of ERCC since 2018.  

ICC joins CSW and other groups in calling for an end to these gross violations and the immediate release of all ERCC church members currently in jail. 

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