Pastor Gao Quanfu, who is among those detained, is a key leader in the house church movement in Shaanxi.
On the evening of May 16, 2025, a significant crackdown on religious freedom took place in Xi’an, Shaanxi, as local authorities detained ten pastors and co-workers of Zion’s Light Church. They faced charges of “using superstition to undermine the implementation of the law,” which resulted in their criminal detention.
The incident started around 10 PM when Pastor Gao Quanfu, the 68-year-old supervisor of the house church Zion’s Light Church, was taken from his home by officers from the Xingqing Road Police Station in the Beilin District of Xi’an. Following his arrest, several other church leaders, including Pastor Jiao Yong, Pastor Tang Bingyi, Elder Wang Yibo, Evangelist Guo Ru, Evangelist Liu Ce, sisters Li Qing and Du Juan, and Sister Zheng were also apprehended. Even 77-year-old Aunt Lian was not exempt from this action.
Pastor Gao Quanfu, born in 1957 in Xi’an, is a key figure in the Christian community. He resigned from his role at the Xi’an Drama Theater to focus on gospel preaching. Under his guidance, the church experienced substantial growth, which he further supported by founding a company. His initiatives included producing two gospel documentaries, “From Xi’an to Zion” and “History of the Northwest Spiritual Workers Group,” which captured the gospel’s spread and the church’s challenges.
In 2018, the new Chinese “Regulation on Religious Affairs” came into force, increasing oversight of religious activities. Pastor Gao was one of the signatories of the declaration protesting the regulations and reaffirming dedication to traditional Christian values.
Even in the face of harassment and reprimands from local authorities, Pastor Gao persevered in his ministry. He coordinated monthly “Pastors’ Fellowship” gatherings and initiated a “Pastors’ Prayer Meeting” to nurture church leaders’ development. Nevertheless, these endeavors rendered him a target of the CCP’s suppression initiatives.
The situation intensified on November 29, 2023, when the Xi’an Civil Affairs Bureau explicitly prohibited the “Mount Zion Church,” where Pastor Gao had been serving. Undaunted, he continued his efforts with the “Zion’s Light Church.” The recent detentions of Pastor Gao and his associates are viewed as a direct consequence of the CCP’s heightened repression of religious beliefs.
The families of the detained pastors and their associates have chosen to engage lawyers to sue the authorities. They assert that the allegations of “using superstition to undermine the implementation of the law” are baseless and serve as a pretext for the CCP’s larger objective of curtailing religious freedom.
Pastor Gao is essential to the Christian community. His documentary “From Xi’an to Zion” chronicles his gospel team’s journey from Xi’an to Jerusalem, highlighting their dedication and challenges. Furthermore, the documentary “History of the Northwest Spiritual Workers Group” provides a historical perspective on the group’s mission to spread the gospel westward, particularly in Xinjiang, demonstrating their resilience in the face of difficulties.
The arrest of Pastor Gao and his associates emphasizes the ongoing struggle for religious freedom in China. The CCP’s efforts to control and suppress religious practices have intensified tensions and challenges for faith communities. While the outcomes of the legal actions initiated by the families of the jailed pastors remain uncertain, their dedication to seeking justice underscores the resilience of those who uphold their beliefs.
Source: Bitter Winter
