Media Profile & Archive: Pastor Zhang Sen (张森)
This archive preserves the documented record for Pastor Zhang Sen (张森) of the Wheat Seed Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui. It is distinct from the record of 张森（黑龙江）, a different detained-without-trial roster entry.
See the Person Profile.
Case chronology
2018 — Pastoral joint statement. Pastor Zhang signed the “Pastoral Joint Statement: A Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith” initiated by Pastor Wang Yi of Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church.
August 2021 — First raid. The Wheat Seed Reformed Church was raided for the first time by Yingzhou District police in Fuyang. Afterward, Pastor Zhang was beaten, placed under surveillance, repeatedly summoned for “tea,” and followed over long periods.
2023 — Church banned. After persecution escalated, the church was formally banned by the government, and nearly 20 people were detained.
March 2024 — 15-day detention. After eight church Christians were released, Pastor Zhang and other believers prayed near the detention center gate to welcome them. He was detained for 15 days on the stated grounds that the prayer had not been reported in advance.
June–July 2025 — Arrests. On June 29, 2025, police raided the church during worship and detained Pastor Chang Shun and Elder Ma Tao. On July 9, 2025, Fuyang police arrested Pastor Zhang at a friend’s home in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. All three were detained at the Fuyang City Detention Center.
June 2026 — Trial. The three stood trial on June 9–12, 2026, at the Fuyang Yingzhou District People’s Court, charged with “organizing illegal gatherings.”
August 10, 2026 — Sentencing. The court sentenced Pastor Zhang to 1 year and 7 months (term to January 24, 2027), Pastor Chang Shun to 1 year and 6 months, and Elder Ma Tao to 1 year and 4 months, all for “organizing illegal gatherings.” The defendants denied wrongdoing. The three families announced on August 14 that they would appeal, saying the men were convicted “because of faith.”
Source records
- 维权网, August 14, 2026 — “安徽阜阳麦种归正教会案宣判：张森牧师获刑1年7个月、常顺牧师获刑1年6个月、马涛长老获刑1年4个月.” Weiquanwang report
- 基督日报 / Christian Daily, August 15, 2026 — “阜陽麥種教會三牧者遭判刑 家屬堅持「信仰無罪」擬上訴.” Christian Daily report
- 维权网 monthly report, Issue 131 (August 31, 2026) — roster entry “张森（牧师）”.
Evidentiary limitations
No official court document has been published publicly; sentencing facts rest on the family’s copy of the verdict and the lawyers’ accounts as reported above. Appeal outcome unknown. This Pastor Zhang Sen must not be confused with the different 张森（黑龙江）, a detained-without-trial roster entry in the same monthly report.