Wu Qiuyu

Between Oct. 9 and Oct. 11, 2025, Chinese authorities arrested nearly 30 leaders of Zion Church, an urban house-church network based in Beijing with influence in more than 40 cities across China. Wu Qiuyu, the wife of Pastor Yang Jun, was among those arrested. Many of those detained were charged with “illegally using an information network” on the grounds that the church conducts online worship services. This charge carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.

The series of raids and arrests was the biggest crackdown on Chinese Christians since 2018. Besides Wu Qiuyu, nine men and eight women remain in detention: Jin Mingri, Wang Lin, Liu Jiang, Sun Cong, Gao Yingjia, Yin Huibin, Liu Zhenbin, Lin Shucheng, Wang Zhong, Wang Cong, Wei Yunfei, Zhu Mingli, Li Shengjuan, Hu Yanzi, Zhan Ge, An Mei and Mei Liming.

“Their only ‘offense’ is worshiping God peacefully, preaching the gospel faithfully, shepherding their flock and serving their neighbors,” church leaders said in a statement on Oct. 12.

Founded in 2007, Zion Church has grown rapidly, reaching an estimated 1,500 members in Beijing by 2018 when it was shut down by authorities. During the coronavirus pandemic, the church shifted to online meetings and outdoor small group gatherings, hosting up to 10,000 participants for its regular gatherings.

Pray for encouragement and boldness for Wu Qiuyu as she waits in detention and is separated from her husband and family. Pray also for the other Zion Church leaders as they face prosecution and imprisonment. Pray, as the church’s leaders have requested, that “those in chains for Christ will be completely free in Christ.”