Franklin Wolf | Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom | China Aid Advisory Board website
Pastor Huang Lei of Rock Bible Church in Yueyang, Hunan Province was recently subjected to a 15-day administrative detention by local police due to his Christian faith. After completing his detention, he has now been released. The decision to impose this detention was made by the YueyangLou District Public Security Bureau in Yueyang City, Hunan Province on April 24, 2024. Pastor Huang was subsequently released from the Yueyang City Detention Center on May 9 after completing his detention. This marks the second time he has been subjected to administrative detention since 2022.
Photos of Pastor Huang Lei at the entrance of the detention center depict him as peaceful, joyful and resolute, mirroring many Christians who emerge from prison or detention.
Recent reports indicate that several local churches in Yueyang, Hunan have been raided. Among them is Morning Light Church which was vandalized and had church items confiscated without any proper procedures. The pastor of that church was placed under administrative detention for 5 days. Some pastors and Christians are being released upon completing their sentences, while other pastors and believers continue to be arrested. This pattern has become commonplace in recent years for house churches in mainland China.
