Chinese authorities have arrested an unregistered church pastor on suspicion of organising what officials described as “illegal religious activities”, according to a police record presented at the time of his detention.
An Yankui was arrested at his home at about 10.30am on 29 September by officials from the Taiyuan Public Security Bureau, according to the document. An is the pastor of Taiyuan Xuncheng Reformed Church, an unregistered Protestant congregation.
The police record cited Article 96 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, which requires authorities to inform people being summoned of the reason for and legal basis of the summons.
An has previously been detained over allegations of organising illegal religious activities. In 2020, authorities held him for 15 days and imposed a fine. He has since been arrested several times on different allegations, including claims that he left the country using false pretences.
Taiyuan Xuncheng Reformed Church has also faced repeated police action. Authorities have carried out raids and arrested members on several occasions, including during a worship service in October 2025.
The latest arrest comes amid other reported pressure on unregistered Christian communities in China. On 16 September, officials in southern China reportedly seized Bibles and other Christian materials from members of an unregistered house church, accusing them of “promoting a cult”.
One Christian was reportedly threatened during questioning and told that refusing to cooperate could result in an investigation involving their children. Police also reportedly forced the church to leave its rented meeting place.
Chinese Christians and religious freedom advocates have continued to call attention to the treatment of unregistered churches and their leaders.
Pastor Ezra Jin, who was released after spending eight months in prison in China, spoke at the 2026 Global Religious Freedom Gathering at Dallas Baptist University about his experiences and the pressure faced by his church.
Jin credited prayer and advocacy with contributing to his release and urged Christians to continue supporting believers facing persecution in China.
He told those attending the gathering that more than 150 pastors and church leaders remained imprisoned across the country. Recalling his own experience, he encouraged people to pray for and advocate on behalf of Christians who remain in detention.
Based on reporting by International Christian Concern.
