The Chinese Communist Party is once again demonstrating that it views independent Christian faith not as a protected belief but as a threat to state authority.
In Wenzhou, a city long known for its vibrant Christian community, armed police, demolition equipment and enforced silence now surround a peaceful church whose only crime is remaining faithful to Christ.
As reported by The Christian Post, a watchdog group monitoring Christian persecution in China warned that CCP authorities appear poised to destroy Yayang Christian Church, dispatching “hundreds of armed police to surround” the building after Christians were forcibly dispersed or arrested and barred from recording what was happening on the ground. Cranes, bulldozers and other heavy machinery were brought in as the situation was described as “extremely tense.”
This is not an isolated incident, nor is it accidental.
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According to ChinaAid, the unfolding siege represents “a serious escalation in the CCP’s systematic campaign of religious persecution under the policy of so-called ‘Sinicization of religion.’” That policy seeks to bring all religious doctrine, practice and institutions under the control of the state, stripping faith of its independence and authority.
Photographs shared by ChinaAid’s founder, Bob Fu, show scaffolding erected around the church’s cross. Fu stated that “part of the church building is being destroyed forcefully by the CCP [government].” He did not mince words about what this means, saying, “The mobilization of hundreds of armed police and heavy demolition equipment against a peaceful Christian church is not law enforcement — it is state-sponsored religious persecution.”
Update on Yayang Church:
— Bob Fu 傅希秋 (@BobFu4China) January 6, 2026
Part of the church building is being destroyed forcefully by the CCP govt on January 6. pic.twitter.com/wnduGjespA
Wenzhou has earned the nickname “China’s Jerusalem” because of its deep Christian roots, and it has long been a focal point of government hostility. Zhejiang province began removing crosses from churches more than a decade ago, and resistance to surveillance and demolition has made local congregations particular targets. In recent weeks, ChinaAid reported that more than 1,000 police, SWAT and paramilitary personnel cracked down on at least 12 congregations in Yayang Town alone.
Church leaders have also been swept up in the campaign. Local pastors Lin Enzhao and Lin Enci were taken into custody and accused of being “principal suspects of a criminal organization,” charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vague accusation commonly used in political cases. Residents said information about the crackdown was quickly censored from online platforms, ensuring that persecution happens quietly and without accountability.
Yet even in the face of intimidation and destruction, hope remains. Fu reminded the world that “history has shown repeatedly that no regime can extinguish faith through force.” He warned that silence will only embolden further abuses, adding, “If the world remains silent at this critical moment, it will only embolden the CCP to destroy more churches and trample fundamental human dignity.”
For Christians, none of this should come as a surprise. Scripture is clear that those who follow Christ will face persecution. What is required now is not indifference, but intercession. Believers around the world should lift up their brothers and sisters in China in prayer, asking God to grant them strength, courage and endurance. Pray for protection for pastors and congregations under threat, for wisdom and boldness in the face of intimidation, and for the light of Christ to shine even brighter in the darkness of oppression.
The church in China is suffering, but it is not defeated. Faith has endured empires before, and it will endure this one as well.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
