Religion · Nationwide · August 17, 2026
China Detains Seven Christians Over Refusal to Remove Church Cross
Seven Christians associated with Holy Love Christian Church in Jinhua, Zhejiang, China, have been detained by Chinese authorities for two weeks, according to Christian Today. Pastor Bao Guohua, his wife Xing Wenxiang, and five other church employees were formally accused by state media of illegal business activity and embezzlement, with Zhejiang Daily alleging they hid accounts and incited unrest among believers. However, the church's lawyer, Chen Jiangang, told the BBC and Reuters the real reason is the church's refusal to remove its cross, stating charges would never have been filed had leaders cooperated with the demolition. Pastor Bao and his wife have reportedly been denied access to lawyers, a violation of Chinese law. Local police publicly denounced the pastor in a statement titled 'Honest pastors' greedy lives.' The detentions are part of a broader campaign that has removed or destroyed more than 1,200 church crosses across Zhejiang province, including at state-sanctioned churches like Holy Love. Church leaders in Wenzhou have protested the campaign, comparing it to the Cultural Revolution-era persecution under Mao.
Source: www.christiantoday.com
Why Bible-Believing Christians Should Care
Scripture promises that those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, and this case shows that promise fulfilled in real time. A government demanding the removal of a cross as the price of a church's survival is not a bureaucratic dispute — it is a demand that the church submit its confession of Christ to state control. The false charges, denial of legal counsel, and public humiliation of a pastor follow a familiar pattern used to criminalize faithfulness while avoiding the appearance of religious persecution. Christians in free nations should recognize this as the same spirit that seeks, in various forms, to subordinate the church to civil authority — and should pray for and support believers who refuse that trade.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. — 2 Timothy 3:12
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From the book
We do not defend the church to save an institution. We defend it because it is the Bride of Christ. The gates of hell will not prevail against it, and that promise is not a reason for passivity. It is a call to arms.
— Chapter 17, “The Mandate of Courage”
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