Pastor David Tang, founder of a prominent underground church in China, was among seven Christians arrested in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, on 5 August.
The authorities have refused to disclose the reason for the detention of the pastor, his church’s financial administrator and five church workers, or where they are being held.
All seven were arrested by Shanghai police at around 7.30am during a cross-provincial operation.
Pastor David Tang, founder of the Purpose Driven Church [Image credit: China Aid]
Pastor Tang is the founder of Wenzhou’s Purpose Driven Church, also referred to as Biaogan Church, which is known for attracting young professionals and intellectuals.
It has met underground since being forcibly closed by the authorities for refusing to join China’s state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
Wenzhou is often called the “Jerusalem of China” because of its large Christian population, established in the nineteenth century by Protestant missionaries. However, the authorities in the city and in Zhejiang Province have tightened restrictions on congregations over the last decade, including removing crosses from more than 1,000 churches.
Latest in string of raids
The arrests of Pastor Tang and his colleagues are the latest in a string of raids targeting underground churches across China.
In October 2025, Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of the Zion Church network of unregistered congregations, was detained along with several other pastors from the Zion Church network.
Pastor Jin was released and allowed to leave the country in July 2026. However, several of his fellow pastors remain in detention, accused of sharing Christian teaching online.
In May 2025, Pastor Gao Quanfu of the Light of Zion Church in Xi’an was detained on charges of “using superstitious activities to undermine the implementation of justice”.
The following month, multiple members of Golden Lampstand Church in Shanxi were jailed for fraud, and their pastor Yang Rongli was sentenced to 15 years in jail. Human rights groups have criticised these convictions as false.
How you can pray
Pray for the swift release of Pastor David and his colleagues and for other Christians held in detention. Ask the Lord to sustain them and give them strength that they may become beacons of light amid the darkness.
