Pastor Lian Changnian, his son Pastor Lian Xuliang, and Preacher Fu Juan were detained on November 2, 2025.
In a startling development, three Christian leaders from the Xi’an Church of Abundance—Pastor Lian Changnian, his son Pastor Lian Xuliang, and Preacher Fu Juan—were re-arrested on November 2, 2025, just months after being released to home surveillance. Their renewed detention comes even though their trial, held on July 9, has yet to reach a verdict.
This latest twist in a case that has drawn international attention underscores the precarious legal status of house churches in China and raises serious concerns about procedural justice and religious freedom.
The three leaders were initially detained on August 17, 2022, under charges of “fraud”—a charge frequently used against house church pastors in China when congregants donate money voluntarily. After more than two years in custody, their status was changed in April 2025 to “residential surveillance at a designated location,” allowing them to return home and reunite with their families. Pastor Lian Changnian was repeatedly hospitalized after the harsh treatment he suffered in jail.
However, the respite was short-lived. Just days ago, while awaiting the court’s decision, authorities unexpectedly executed formal arrests and transferred the pastors to the Weiyang District Detention Center (now part of the Lintong District) in Xi’an.
As “Bitter Winter” previously reported, the case’s background reveals troubling irregularities. The Xi’an Church of Abundance, a prominent house church known for its theological independence and refusal to join the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement, has long been under scrutiny. The charges of fraud hinge on the claim that donations were coerced, although the alleged victims insisted they had freely donated to the church. Critics argue that this tactic reflects a broader pattern of criminalizing religious leaders who operate outside government control.
The re-arrest of the three pastors fits into a broader context of intensified crackdowns on unregistered religious communities. While the Chinese Constitution nominally guarantees freedom of religion, spiritual expression is tightly regulated. House churches, which refuse to submit to state oversight, are particularly vulnerable to harassment, surveillance, and legal persecution.
The Xi’an Church of Abundance has been targeted for its independence, theological influence, and growing congregation. The repeated detentions of its leaders appear to aim to dismantle the church’s leadership and discourage its members.
The court has not issued a verdict in the July trial, and the legal rationale for the renewed arrests remains opaque. The re-arrest signals a predetermined outcome and a continued erosion of legal protections for religious minorities.
Meanwhile, the families of the detained pastors—and the broader Christian community—wait anxiously for clarity and justice.
Source: Bitter Winter
