An Yankui shares the Gospel with judge during his appeal

Zhang Chenghao and An Yankui of Zion Reformed Church

Photo: From left to right, Zhang Chenghao and An Yankui (ChinaAid source)

 

(Shanxi Province, China – March 28, 2023) On March 15, Lvliang City Intermediate People’s Court issued a criminal verdict to Minister An Yankui and co-worker Zhang Chenghao of Zion Reformed Church. The court rejected their appeal and upheld the original verdict in a secret trial on March 1.

 

A chance to share the Gospel

Minister An said he was not surprised about the final verdict. For him, the appeal process was more important than the result because he testified to God’s Kingdom in court.

The first trial

An reflected in a recent prayer letter how during the first trial, the prosecutor asked him if he would admit guilt. He responded: “I think you should admit guilt. Do you know you are committing a crime?”

The second trial

During the second trial, the bailiff asked An to sit on a chair in the middle that looked like a cell. An protested this initially but submitted to their request. After the defense took out all their evidence, the bailiff realized An was released on bail, so he arranged for An to sit in his normal designated area.

Judge Liu

Judge Liu Huiping presided. The other two judges listed on the verdict paper did not attend the trial. According to ChinaAid reports, the second trial was secret. The judge read the first trial verdict, and An asked the judge if he would read An’s appeal document the same way. The judge allowed him to speak but interrupted him several times. Zhang Chenghao asked then asked the judge “What is the purpose of the law?” He hoped Judge Liu would respond, but he claimed the question had no relation to the case.

The judge asked what Minister An’s profession was. An said he was a pastor.

Judge Liu responded: ”So you are jobless, is that correct?”

Minister An’s new evidence

Despite the difficulties, An Yankui shared his new evidence with Judge Liu, namely the Bible. An hoped to prove that by using the maps inside the Bible, he could prove that the Apostle Paul went on many mission journeys. On the other hand, An used a tourism visa to attend an evangelical conference with his co-workers. In the same sense, An and Paul’s trips would both be considered travel.

Gifting judge liu the bible

The judge felt this was unusual and clarified if An wanted to submit the Bible as evidence. An Yankui considered it an “invisible glory” and wanted to share the gospel with the judge. “I can give the Holy Bible to you as a gift if you like,” An responded.

 

Background: An Yankui

Police from Xiaodian detained An Yankui on December 31, 2020, for 15 days in the name of “organizing illegal religious activities” and fined him 1,000 yuan (~$147).

Crossing the border

After a Sunday service on November 21, 2021, public security agents criminally detained An Yankui and his church co-worker Zhang Chenghao for “crossing the national border illegally.” They were detained at Fangshan County Detention Center and Xiaoyi Detention Center respectively. The authorities formally arrested both on December 28.

First trial and release

On the morning of August 5, 2022, Fenyang Court tried An and Zhang. Authorities did not inform Yao Congya (An Yankui’s wife) or Guo Juan (Zhang Chenghao’s wife) of their husbands’ verdict until November 7. An Yankui was sentenced to a year and given a fine of 5,000 yuan (~$733), and Zhang Chenghao received a similar sentence of a year and a fine of 4,000 yuan (~$587). Both men were released on November 21, 2022.

 

 

~Yu Bing, China Aid Special Reporter

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An Yankui shares the Gospel with judge during his appeal

Zhang Chenghao and An Yankui of Zion Reformed Church

Photo: From left to right, Zhang Chenghao and An Yankui (ChinaAid source)

 

(Shanxi Province, China – March 28, 2023) On March 15, Lvliang City Intermediate People’s Court issued a criminal verdict to Minister An Yankui and co-worker Zhang Chenghao of Zion Reformed Church. The court rejected their appeal and upheld the original verdict in a secret trial on March 1.

 

A chance to share the Gospel

Minister An said he was not surprised about the final verdict. For him, the appeal process was more important than the result because he testified to God’s Kingdom in court.

The first trial

An reflected in a recent prayer letter how during the first trial, the prosecutor asked him if he would admit guilt. He responded: “I think you should admit guilt. Do you know you are committing a crime?”

The second trial

During the second trial, the bailiff asked An to sit on a chair in the middle that looked like a cell. An protested this initially but submitted to their request. After the defense took out all their evidence, the bailiff realized An was released on bail, so he arranged for An to sit in his normal designated area.

Judge Liu

Judge Liu Huiping presided. The other two judges listed on the verdict paper did not attend the trial. According to ChinaAid reports, the second trial was secret. The judge read the first trial verdict, and An asked the judge if he would read An’s appeal document the same way. The judge allowed him to speak but interrupted him several times. Zhang Chenghao asked then asked the judge “What is the purpose of the law?” He hoped Judge Liu would respond, but he claimed the question had no relation to the case.

The judge asked what Minister An’s profession was. An said he was a pastor.

Judge Liu responded: ”So you are jobless, is that correct?”

Minister An’s new evidence

Despite the difficulties, An Yankui shared his new evidence with Judge Liu, namely the Bible. An hoped to prove that by using the maps inside the Bible, he could prove that the Apostle Paul went on many mission journeys. On the other hand, An used a tourism visa to attend an evangelical conference with his co-workers. In the same sense, An and Paul’s trips would both be considered travel.

Gifting judge liu the bible

The judge felt this was unusual and clarified if An wanted to submit the Bible as evidence. An Yankui considered it an “invisible glory” and wanted to share the gospel with the judge. “I can give the Holy Bible to you as a gift if you like,” An responded.

 

Background: An Yankui

Police from Xiaodian detained An Yankui on December 31, 2020, for 15 days in the name of “organizing illegal religious activities” and fined him 1,000 yuan (~$147).

Crossing the border

After a Sunday service on November 21, 2021, public security agents criminally detained An Yankui and his church co-worker Zhang Chenghao for “crossing the national border illegally.” They were detained at Fangshan County Detention Center and Xiaoyi Detention Center respectively. The authorities formally arrested both on December 28.

First trial and release

On the morning of August 5, 2022, Fenyang Court tried An and Zhang. Authorities did not inform Yao Congya (An Yankui’s wife) or Guo Juan (Zhang Chenghao’s wife) of their husbands’ verdict until November 7. An Yankui was sentenced to a year and given a fine of 5,000 yuan (~$733), and Zhang Chenghao received a similar sentence of a year and a fine of 4,000 yuan (~$587). Both men were released on November 21, 2022.

 

 

~Yu Bing, China Aid Special Reporter

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

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