In China, seven Christians are being held at an unknown location with no contact with the outside world

In the Chinese city of Wenzhou, authorities detained seven members of the “Purpose Driven Church,” including the organization’s founder, Pastor David Tang, its financial administrator, and five staff members. According to Christian Today, the detentions took place on the morning of August 5; however, no official charges have been filed at this time, and the whereabouts of those arrested remain unknown.

Wenzhou has historically been considered a region with a high proportion of Christians, where the number of believers is estimated at 11–20 percent. Despite this, Zhejiang Province continues to be a region subject to harsh anti-religious measures. In recent years, local authorities have systematically conducted raids, including the forced demolition of places of worship and mass interrogations of congregants.

Human rights activists have expressed serious concern over these events. Mervyn Thomas, founder of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, called the detention a “forced disappearance” that grossly violates international human rights standards. He called on the Chinese authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the pastor and his colleagues, grant them access to legal counsel, and release those detained unless evidence of actual criminal offenses is presented.

Experts note that the arrests of church leaders in China are often accompanied by unfounded accusations of financial fraud, which has become a common practice for exerting pressure on religious organizations whose activities are not approved by state authorities.