Over a thousand police officers raided a prominent house church in Yayang, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province (浙江省溫州市雅陽), early Monday morning (the 15th). Hundreds of Christians were detained.
China Aid (對華援助協會) reported that police, SWAT teams, and riot police from across Zhejiang Province stormed the Yayang Town (雅陽鎮) church gathering site. Authorities accused church leaders of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." Several hundred believers were detained and gradually released around 11 a.m. Key church workers remained in criminal detention.
Police blockaded church entrances and temporarily closed roads leading to the site. Local Christians reported that officers continued to station near believers' homes after the raid. Normal communication within the community was severely disrupted.
The targeted church is one of 12 independent, indigenous house churches in Yayang that follow the Little Flock tradition established by Watchman Nee (倪柝聲). Yayang Church has long been regarded as a "benchmark church" in the region.
China Aid noted that Yayang's Christian community is among the most organized in the area. Since Zhejiang's 2014 campaign to remove church crosses, local believers have repeatedly resisted cross demolitions and surveillance installations. Several church buildings in the town still display their crosses.
In June, local government officials broke into the church to install national flags and surveillance devices, which believers actively resisted.
Authorities issued bounty warrants for two church leaders—58-year-old Lin Enzhao (林恩兆) and 54-year-old Lin Enci (林恩慈)—labeling them "main suspects of a criminal gang." No specific charges were provided. Both leaders are highly respected among believers. Lin Enzhao was previously wanted over a decade ago for opposing cross removals.
China Aid stated this approach "reflects China's recent trend of criminalizing religious activities."
Video footage shows helmeted police carrying shields rushing toward the church, capturing tense scenes of believers being arrested.
