Authorities prosecuted Shengjia Church leaders in Shunde, Guangdong, because they sold Christian discipleship literature, which is classified as illegal.
On January 17, 2025, the government handed out prison sentences to multiple church members, including Preacher Deng Yanxiang, due to illegal business activities, which is part of a broader crackdown on house churches. During a May 2023 raid, authorities arrested church leaders while they confiscated church materials, which showed how legal charges were used to curb religious activities. Families, including Elder Zhu Longfei’s, faced difficulties because his wife had to care for her sick parents-in-law alone while managing her heart condition after the detention of church members.
The court cases against church leaders ended in January 2025 after they remained detained throughout numerous bail attempts. However, this situation is not uncommon in China, but house church communities face continuous pressure while families involved in these religious gatherings experience major challenges.
