The “Mayflower” of the 21st century

In September 1620, a three-masted square-rigged ship called the “Mayflower” from England approached the land of America and arrived in Plymouth in December.

Upon reaching the shore, the ship carried a total of 102 people, including many poor farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, as well as indentured servants and 35 Puritans. In order to establish a governing framework that would be binding for everyone, they signed a compact before going ashore. This compact was known as “The Mayflower Compact”, and its signatories pledged to create a self-governing community based on the consent of the governed and the rule of law. The Mayflower Compact became the first significant political document in American history. Fast forward to the 21st century, the Chinese Christian refugee group called “Mayflower Church” has recently arrived in the U.S. after more than three years of arduous journey, ready to embark on a new life in America.

/102 people crammed aboard the small Mayflower as it crossed the Atlantic to America

The Largest Collective Political Asylum in History

The Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, known as the “Mayflower Church,” was established in 2012 in China. Since its establishment, the church refused to register with the government, leading to close surveillance and frequent acts of intimidation by the authorities, including interrogations, raiding of meeting places, and confiscation of computers and Bibles. In 2018, Pastor Pan Yongguang, along with hundreds of pastors and elders from various parts of China, signed a statement drafted by Pastor Wang Yi of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, opposing the newly implemented religious regulations. The members of the Reform Protestant church faced increasing oppression, especially after the December arrest of around a hundred members of the Early Rain Covenant Church.

In 2019, following a vote within the church, the members made a determined decision to flee to Jeju Island, South Korea, at the end of the year (with landing visas, no need for visa applications), in order to escape persecution by the Chinese authorities. However, they faced new challenges in reality: their relatives in China continued to face threats from the authorities, and the newborns of the church were unable to obtain passports from the Chinese consulate, depriving them of citizenship rights. During their two-year stay in South Korea, the church members made several unsuccessful attempts to apply for refugee status. In August 2022, after careful consideration, the church decided to embark on another journey seeking asylum and applied for protection at the United Nations Refugee Agency in Thailand.

Upon their arrival in Thailand, unidentified individuals began to track and photograph them. After submitting their applications at the United Nations, the church members constantly changed hotels due to signs of surveillance. During this time, due to the defection of a member who was coerced by the Chinese government, the location of the church members’ residence was compromised. As their visas expired and they remained illegally in the country, the Thai immigration authorities and police detained all the church members in an immigration detention center on March 31st. The 35 children and 28 adults faced the risk of being deported back to China.

The church members awaited deportation hearings due to their overstayed visas. After the adults from the church appeared in court, they thought they would be able to return to their residence after paying fines. However, they were allegedly taken to the airport and, after resisting, were eventually sent to a detention center in Bangkok, with many twists and turns. The good news is that, with the mediation of the U.S. State Department, Thailand eventually agreed to allow all church members to come to the U.S.. One family of four, including a wife who was about to give birth, remained temporarily in Thailand, while the other 59 members arrived in the U.S. on April 7th, including 33 children and 26 adults. These individuals who collectively arrived in the U.S. have become one of the largest groups of Chinese citizens legally seeking refuge in the U.S. to escape political or religious persecution.

“Victory Achieved in Freedom”

The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China states that people have the freedom of belief and religion. However, religious activities must be conducted under government “management,” and religious activities can only take place in designated places of worship. Moreover, it is prohibited to preach to minors, including one’s own family members. These principles clearly differ from the concept of religious freedom in Western societies.

Under these principles, there have been cases where non-believing Communist Party members manage churches, and officials from the religious bureau who do not believe in Buddhism make decisions on temple support for various government policies. The promotion of religious freedom in Western societies is based on countless wars between nations and violent conflicts among different religious communities due to differing religious beliefs. These principles prevent interference in the religious activities of other countries and their citizens, reducing the chances of war between nations and aiming for social harmony within a country regardless of religious differences. Under these principles, individuals who perceive a lack of religious freedom in China or feel oppressed due to their religious beliefs face difficulties in receiving support or intervention from foreign governments. Only when these individuals leave China and arrive in another country can they apply for refugee status and stay in another country. Australia, as an immigration-friendly country, has an annual quota of only 1,000 places for religious and political refugees.

As a result, Chinese Christians are legally limited to worshiping in churches affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, but for several decades, the authorities have largely tolerated independent and unregistered “house churches”. These house churches have tens of millions of believers and are believed to have more members than official religious groups. In recent years, house churches have faced significant pressure, and many prominent ones have been shut down. This is also a deep-rooted reason that led to the Mayflower Church’s decision to embark on a life of exile more than three years ago.

For years, the U.S.-based human rights organization “ChinaAid” has been advocating for international attention to this issue and working to rescue the church. On the evening of April 7th, a press conference was held at a meeting room in Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, led by Pastor Pan Yongguang of the Mayflower Church, where adults and children sang hymns from the Bible multiple times. Pastor Pan Yongguang told the media that as he walked out of the airport, he felt that he could finally let go of the burden in his heart and no longer fear persecution from the state due to his religious beliefs.

The members of the Mayflower Church arrived in the U.S. on humanitarian visas and are committed to unity and cooperation in building their own Christian community. With the assistance of several federal congressmen and the U.S. office of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, the Mayflower Church had the opportunity to start a new life, transitioning from refugee status to humanitarian parole. With funding from Freedom International, church members will temporarily reside in Tyler, Texas, for a year-long program to learn English, integrate into American culture, and end their life of nomadic exile, gradually putting down roots and starting anew. This can be seen as a great example of successful bipartisan international cooperation.

For three years, the church members have never stopped pursuing freedom, no matter how difficult the journey. They have bravely pressed forward. This perseverance has allowed them to finally arrive in the U.S. on Good Friday during Easter, gaining their freedom. Just as the Mayflower sailed across the sea to the New World, today’s Mayflower Church tells a story of resilience, strength, hope, and victory. Regardless of their location, the freedom from religious persecution and the development of a healthy society, protection of human rights, and spread of democracy are essential.

/A group photo of the Mayflower Church Christians upon their arrival in Dallas, Texas, U.S.

The Immortal Beliefs in a Turbulent World

400 years ago, the passengers on the Mayflower embarked on a journey to the New World. These Puritans chose to engage in “reverse migration,” leaving behind the modernized England and the European continent to settle in the untamed wilderness of the American New World. Their motivation was not driven by the pursuit of better material living conditions, wealth, or survival, but rather to establish a nation of religious freedom on Earth, “A City Upon a Hill” as described in the Bible. Most of these individuals came from the same church, forming a true fellowship of “standing together through storms.” What factors allowed them to “stand together through storms”? It was not mere coincidence, but their shared faith and the Mayflower Compact that emerged from this faith.

Similarly, today’s Mayflower Church members come from Shenzhen, China, one of the four first-tier cities in China known as the “Běishàng-guǎng-shēn” (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen) economic powerhouse, with economic development surpassing the majority of cities in the U.S. (excluding major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago). These individuals are not lacking in material abundance; rather, they seek religious freedom and protection from government persecution, leading them to choose the modern-day “Mayflower” exile. Just like the Mayflower voyage of old, which endured 66 days of perilous sea travel with significant casualties but an undying faith, this spirit is clearly carried on today. With over 1,000 days of uncertainty, not knowing where they will be tomorrow, facing the constant anxiety and fear of potential repatriation to China and the unknown consequences, they have finally achieved rebirth.

/Mayflower Church members received as refugees in the U.S.

The Mayflower Church has finally arrived in the land of freedom, which is a cause for celebration. However, we must not lose sight of the harsh reality that still exists. Last year, over 5,600 Christians were killed for their faith, more than 2,100 churches were attacked or closed, and over 124,000 Christians were forced to leave their homes, with nearly 15,000 becoming refugees. The 63 members of the Mayflower Church are among the extremely fortunate few. As long as religious persecution exists in the world, the pursuit of help and refuge should never cease. After all, as taught in 1 Corinthians 12, “no one should suffer alone” as a Christian.

The Puritans, during the 16th and 17th centuries, were part of the religious reform period. They believed that the Church of England still retained the system of religious and political unity similar to Catholicism, as well as various rituals that lacked biblical basis. 

Consequently, they refused to follow the Church of England. For over a hundred years in Britain, they paid a great price for their faith. Therefore, when they arrived in America, they deeply understood the value of freedom. The hardships endured over the past century had molded them, making them cherish the hard-won freedom of the New World. Despite being marginalized for their belief in religious freedom, the Puritans chose not to stay in Britain to fight but peacefully brought forth freedom, order, and the ability for remarkable development to America, laying the foundation for its prosperity today.

In today’s China, the church is to some extent marginalized. As the government promotes the sinicization of religions, the Mayflower Church, holding steadfast to their faith, can only seek refuge in a foreign land and continue to spread the gospel of freedom in a free country. Perhaps, this is also the power of faith that drives believers to never cease their pursuit, regardless of the time and place.

Epilogue: The social unrest in Hong Kong in 2019 brought about the “second reunification” of Hong Kong, leading many Hong Kongers to leave and settle in countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia. We are delighted to see the significant increase in Hong Kong immigrants in Australia in recent years. However, these Hong Kongers who have left with pain and arrived in Australia are not like the Puritans of the Mayflower, venturing into a new continent. Instead, they enter a society that already embraces rich and diverse cultures. We hope that they can integrate into this society and build their future in a land that values equality, democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.