Beijing arrests founder of unregistered house church on fraud charges
The pastor of Beijing Jiaquan Church was detained in October, following a police raid that his wife says targeted the congregation's size and finances.
By Layla Richardson ·
Pastor Xianfeng Edward Cui, founder of the unregistered Beijing Jiaquan Church, was arrested on Oct. 23 on fraud charges, according to his wife Jin Young Gu. The detention marks the latest move in a sustained campaign by Chinese authorities to consolidate control over religious groups that operate outside official state registries.
Gu, who resides outside China, told The Associated Press that police first detained Cui on Sept. 4. She said approximately 100 officers participated in a raid on the church's location during that initial detention. Authorities have since formalized the case, citing financial irregularities related to offerings from church members. Gu believes the fraud allegations stem from the church's status as an unregistered congregation.
The Beijing Jiaquan Church was established in 2006. It functioned as a private gathering for years until 2019, when local authorities sealed off its main worship facility in Beijing. Following that move, the congregation split into smaller groups that met at various locations. In 2023, officials interrupted a Sunday class to issue a specific warning to Cui and Gu. Gu recalled that officers told Cui he should lead only one church with fewer than 100 people, describing it as a direct order concerning the group's size and organization.
Gu, a Korean national, has been unable to return to China as a family member since 2023 due to visa denials. She is currently the primary source of information regarding her husband's legal status. Neither the police in Beijing's Shijingshan district nor the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to requests for comment regarding the arrest.
This case follows a series of high-profile detentions aimed at tightening religious oversight under President Xi Jinping. In October 2025, authorities arrested 30 leaders of the Zion Church network across multiple cities in one of the largest crackdowns in recent years. Among those detainees was Zion Church founder Jin Mingri. He was released in July following a personal request made by U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to Beijing.
Cui's current legal proceedings are expected to continue in local courts. The specific financial details of the fraud charges have not been publicly released. Gu remains in contact with legal representatives to monitor the case.
