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Story Archive

Chen Jingmao: Penalty for good deeds

Posted Apr 12 2007

“The Communist Party loses face because of you!” they shouted, kicking him again and again in the stomach. “We might as well kill you here!”

Since he accepted Christ in 1990, Chen Jingmao (76) has been unable and unwilling to stop telling people about his beloved Savior. He was arrested frequently, beaten severely, fined and forced to study Communist ideology.

In June, 2001, Chen was arrested again. This time for sending food to needy Christians in Chongquing. And this time, he was convicted of “using a cultic organization to sabotage law enforcement” and sentenced to four years in prison.

When his daughter, Chen Zhiqing, went to visit him on March 16, 2004, she was
shocked when her father had to be carried out to meet her. He had been betrayed by a fellow inmate who reported to prison officials that Chen had been sharing his beliefs with other prisoners.

Soon after, a dozen or so prison guards appeared and began beating every part of his body until he lost consciousness.

“The Communist Party loses face because of you!” they shouted, kicking him again and again in the stomach. “We might as well kill you here!”

Chen’s injuries were so severe that he could neither walk nor eat. For the next two weeks, prison officials administered intravenous fluids four times a day to keep him alive. He could not speak and could barely hear.

Three months later, Chen’s daughter visited him again, only to discover that he had
developed excessive accumulation of fluid in his tissues as a result of his treatment. As Chen discussed his condition with her, she was suddenly surrounded by five police officers and forbidden to see her father again or to buy him medication or food.

Even so, Chen tried to comfort his daughter.

“It’s worth the beating,” he told her. “I have preached to over 50 people! It’s well worth it.” Again and again he urged Chen Zhiqing to be a devoted believer, to receive other believers in her house and to pray for him with other brothers and sisters.

Chen Jingmao was released from prison in July, 2005, and immediately hospitalized due to the physical abuse and torture he suffered.

2 Responses to “Chen Jingmao: Penalty for good deeds”

  1. Susan Says:
    May 18th, 2007 at 2:23 am

    I have definitely been encouraged by this story and the others on this site. We must carry on for the sake of the gospel, no matter what comes our way. I have no idea what it is like to be tortured and beaten, but I pray that I can run the race God has set before me and not be ashamed of the gospel or afraid to stand firm in my faith, just like Brother Chen.

  2. Jacky Manchester Says:
    February 5th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    I find myself ashamed at not being more zealous for my precious Lord. I want to write and encourage believers who are suffering for their faith, and let them know that others know about them and care. May God grant strength to me if and when the time comes that I must also take a stand and take the consequences. May God use these precious believers to bring others to Jesus and glory to His name.

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