Elder Ma Tao Freed; Two Pastors Still Jailed
An independent Anhui flock still faces pressure as co-pastors await release into 2027 after a raid on Sunday worship.
Ma Tao, an elder of Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui Province, returned home on October 28, 2026, after completing a 16-month sentence for leading unauthorized Christian gatherings.
Two pastors convicted with him remain in custody. Pastor Chang Shun, sentenced to 18 months, is scheduled for release on November 18. Senior Pastor Zhang Sen, sentenced to one year and seven months, is expected to leave prison on January 24, 2027. On August 10, the Yingzhou District People’s Court imposed on Ma a term of one year and four months for “organizing illegal gatherings.”
Raid, charges, and a conscience on trial
The case began on June 29, 2025, when police raided the church and its affiliated Covenant Chapel during Sunday worship and detained 19 congregants, including four children. Most were freed the next day; Ma and Chang were placed under criminal detention. Police arrested Zhang in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, on July 9.
According to the indictment of the Yingzhou District People’s Procuratorate, the three leaders were accused of repeatedly holding unapproved religious gatherings since 2021, allowing minors to take part in religious activities and receive instruction at home, and of private worship, weddings, and the welcoming of released Christians. Maizhong Reformed Church is an independent Protestant congregation that refused to join the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Authorities had ordered it closed; members continued to meet in small groups, often in homes.
Before the June 2026 trial, the wives of the three leaders appealed to U.S. and European diplomats to observe the proceedings, arguing that their husbands were prosecuted for peaceful expressions of Christian faith. In court, Zhang acknowledged that the gatherings had taken place but stated: “Although I acknowledge that these events actually occurred, my conscience does not allow me to admit that they were criminal.” He added: “Regardless of the court’s ruling, I will not hate anyone,” and “I believe that ultimate justice rests in the hands of Almighty God.”
It remains unclear whether Ma faces post-release restrictions. Families of the congregation have previously reported continued surveillance and harassment. For Catholics who follow the Church’s constant concern for religious freedom and for Christians under pressure, the Fuyang case underscores the cost paid by believers who gather outside state-managed structures while seeking only to worship God.