(Beijing – July 15, 2024) On July 8, 2024, Pastor Jin Mingri and the pastoral team of the Beijing Zion Church issued a prayer letter to inform that on Sunday a group of young people at the church were set upon by the local police while gathering in Haidian District, Beijing, and many of them were taken away by the Ganjiakou police. Zhou Sirui has not returned nor been heard from for more than 24 hours.

The intercession letter stated that in July 2024, floods occurred in the Yangtze River Basin, and the Church of God in China also faced waves of persecution. At about 10 a.m. on July 7, when a group of young people in Haidian District were holding a Sunday gathering, more than 20 police and law enforcement officers stormed the venue. All those present were questioned and registered, and several church members were taken away in the afternoon to be questioned at the Ganjiakou police station. By around 3 p.m., all other members had left the station one after another except for Zhou Sirui, who is still not free. Her family has not received any news.

Zhou Sirui is a young member of the post-95 generation. She has believed in the Lord since she was a child and maintained her faith during college. She is enthusiastically committed to church fellowship and actively participates in service. For this reason, she was often questioned by the police. However, she did not back down in face of threats. Not only was she firm, but she also encouraged other young believers who were weak and wavering under persecution.

There are many young preachers from the Beijing Zion Church. After the church was banned in 2018, they persisted in preaching the gospel across China at the risk of being arrested. Many preachers have been detained in recent years.

The Beijing Zion Church said in its intercession letter: “We are grateful that there are such young people who are bearing wonderful testimonies for the Lord in this land!” The Beijing Zion Church calls on all God’s children to pay attention and pray.