Walking with the Persecuted Faithful: ChinaAid’s Latest Updates - 02.19.2026

Join us as we walk with the persecuted faithful. This week, we spotlight the arrests of four more Early Rain Church leaders on fabricated "subversion" charges, a shocking verdict labeling church offerings as fraud, and the U.S. nomination of imprisoned Chinese pastors for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize—plus a heart-wrenching video from the daughter of a disappeared truck driver near the Kazakhstan-Xinjiang border. 

ChinaAid stands with the persecuted, exposing injustices and safeguarding the vulnerable. Your partnership makes this vital work possible. Thank you for joining us in this urgent hour.

Four More Early Rain Church Leaders Charged: "Subversion" 

On February 12, 2026, Chinese authorities formally arrested Elder Li Yingqiang and Preacher Dai Zhichao of Early Rain Covenant Church on charges of “inciting subversion of state power.” Detained since a large-scale operation on January 6, both men are now held at Deyang Detention Center. Brother Ye Fenghua (叶丰华) and Vice Deacon Jia Xuewei (贾学伟), who were under forced residential surveillance, have left the Deyang Detention Center. They have not regained their freedom as their status has been changed to “residential surveillance at a designated location.” Both are likewise charged with the crime of “inciting subversion of state power.”
 

This escalation continues the intense suppression that began with the 2018 raid, which led to Pastor Wang Yi’s nine-year imprisonment and near-total isolation from his family. Despite relentless pressure, Early Rain members persevere in their faith. Advocates call for the immediate release of all detained believers and respect for China’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. Stand with Early Rain’s persecuted believers—pray, share their story, and urge global leaders to demand their release. Developing Story Read More

Pray With Us:

Story #2: CCP Labels Church Offerings as Fraud in Shocking Verdict | Chinese Pastors Imprisoned

In Hefei, Anhui, Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu of Ganquan Church were sentenced to 4.5 and 4 years in prison, respectively, on February 13, 2026, for "fraud" tied to voluntary tithes and offerings. Fines totaling RMB 58,000 and recovery of over RMB 360,000 in church funds underscore the Chinese authorities' tactic to criminalize core Christian practices, crippling independent house churches. 

Amid procedural delays spanning over two years, families endure separation but affirm resilience through scripture: "All the days ordained for me were written in your book." This case exemplifies the CCP's systematic suppression, prompting calls for global scrutiny to safeguard religious freedom. Stand with imprisoned pastors Zhou and Ding—share this story, pray for justice, and donate to ChinaAid Families of Persecuted to support the imprisoned and their families. Developing Story Read More

Pray With Us: 
Lord, we lift up Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu in prayer. We pray for supernatural peace that surpasses understanding. We pray for Ganquan Church, that their faith would not be shaken but instead continue to grow and advance. 

Story #3: U.S. Nominates Persecuted Chinese Pastors and Advocates for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. Representatives Christopher Smith, John Moolenaar, James McGovern, Joe Wilson, and Thomas Suozzi have nominated six advocates from China and Hong Kong for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, honoring their nonviolent stand against CCP repression. Among them, Christian pastors Ezra Jin Mingri and Wang Yi endure imprisonment for defending religious freedom, while Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti serves life for advocating for interethnic dialogue.

Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai faces a harsh 20-year sentence amid health decline, and activists Benny Tai and Joshua Wong suffer heavy sentences for peaceful protests. Their sacrifices embody universal values, urging global solidarity against ongoing human rights abuses. Stand with these brave advocates—share their story, pray for their release, and advocate for religious freedom in China today! Read Now

Pray With Us:
Father, we come together across the globe to plead for a miracle. We pray that the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize would be awarded to pastors Ezra Jin Mingri or Wang Yi as a profound testimony to spotlight house church persecution in China and expose China’s religious freedom violations on the global stage. We also pray for Ilham Tohti, Jimmy Lai, Benny Tai, and Joshua Wong and their families.

Story 4: Daughter of Disappeared Truck Driver Near Kazakhstan-Xinjiang Border Shares Video

Ulzhalgas Alimnur, daughter of disappeared truck driver Alimnur Turganbay, posted a video revealing her father was in a state of extreme anxiety and left them with an ominous warning: “I do not know where they will take me, but I know they will definitely take me somewhere else.”

The case once again highlights China’s complex control measures targeting cross-border ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region. Chinese authorities detained him on the grounds of “dual nationality,” an explanation that has become a common tactic used against ethnic Kazakhs returning to China in the Xinjiang border region. 

For families who move across borders in search of a home between two countries, nationality is no longer an umbrella of protection, but rather a political trap that can spring at any moment. Stand with Ulzhalgas and Alimnur today. Share now to raise awareness and apply pressure on Kazakhstan and China. Learn More

Pray With Us:
Lord, we pray for Ulzhalgas Alimnur. We bless her recent video that it would continue to spread and raise awareness of her father's, Alimnur Turganbay, treatment, and case. 

International Religious Freedom Summit

At the 2026 International Religious Freedom Summit, Dr. Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, delivered a stirring call for unity across faiths. He honored Kazakh human rights hero Serikzhan Bilash—a Muslim activist relentlessly pursued by the CCP for documenting survivor testimonies from Xinjiang’s camps. “He reached out to me. I’m a Christian, he’s a Muslim. We just work like brothers.” This cross-faith partnership shows what’s possible when we set differences aside. As Benjamin Franklin wisely said: “We must all hang together, or we shall all hang separately.” In the fight for religious freedom, we must stand as one. Unity is our strength. Watch Now

Pray With Us:
Father, we thank you for Dr. Bob Fu and his call for unity. We bless Bob Fu’s work and collaboration with Serikzhan Bilash. We pray their partnership would be a testimony to all freedom advocates; to come together to advance freedom!