Relatives and fellow Christians ask for solidarity as a fragile congregation faces renewed pressure after a police raid during Sunday worship.
by Li Xiaosi
Century New City Church in Kunming, Yunnan, a small Protestant community of roughly thirty believers, has entered a difficult season after a police operation disrupted its Sunday service on April 12, 2026. Officers intervened during worship and took away Pastor Yu Shaolin and co-workers Li Qun and Luo Ping. On May 20, the three were formally arrested on the charge of organizing an illegal assembly and transferred to the Guandu District Detention Center, where they remain in custody.
Pastor Yu, fifty‑two, has lived for years with serious health problems. His wife, Siqi, also struggles with cancer and hypertension. Their situation has become heavier since the arrest, and relatives worry about the impact of detention on Pastor Yu’s already fragile condition.
The congregation has long been composed of Christians who live with illness, economic hardship, and the daily strain of caring for vulnerable family members. Their church has been a place where they gather for encouragement and mutual support. The sudden detention of three central figures has unsettled this fragile balance. Members describe a community where many arrive each week carrying physical pain and emotional fatigue, and where the simple act of meeting together has become a source of strength.
The church released a public letter asking Christians to pray for the detainees and for the congregation as a whole. They are seeking legal assistance and trying to maintain their weekly rhythm of worship despite the absence of three key members. Families of the arrested believers have also reached out to other churches, hoping that wider attention may help protect their loved ones during the legal process.
The appeals circulating among relatives and co‑religionists speak of anxiety, perseverance, and a desire for solidarity. They ask for prayer for the health of the detainees, for access to medical care, and for strength for the families who wait for news. They also hope that the case will not fade from view, since public concern may offer a measure of protection as the investigation continues.
Century New City Church remains a small community marked by illness and hardship, yet its members insist that their shared faith sustains them. Their request for prayer reflects both their vulnerability and their determination to stand together while three of their own face an uncertain future.
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