Hope in prison: encouraging reports from a Chinese defense lawyer

Elder Hao Ming reads in prison, an encouraging report for Christians

Photo: The retired elder of Qingcaodi Church, Hao Ming, continues to read in prison (ChinaAid source)

(Deyang, Sichuan province—March 14, 2023) Elder Hao Ming, the imprisoned former elder of Qingcaodi Church, met with his defense attorney this week. The lawyer also met with other individuals that all brought encouraging news.

Editor’s note: Because the Chinese authorities have recently exerted severe pressure on attorneys and family members of some clients, the real names of other clients and lawyers other than Hao Ming are not included in this story. Instead, ChinaAid has only included the surnames of other Christians and lawyers.

Update from Elder Hao Ming

Attorney Zhu revealed that Elder Hao Ming is in good health, but when his mother was mentioned, he still wept. During this meeting, Attorney Zhu learned that Elder Hao Ming was recently reading a theological book, On Being a Theologian of the Cross. Elder Hao made many comments inside the book. When the lawyer asked Elder Hao Ming if he would forgive those who framed him for “fraud,” he responded that as long as they repented, he would forgive them. He specifically mentioned a brother Liu who was suffering from depression, saying that he could sympathize with Liu’s weakness.

Their previous visit

The last time Zhu met with Elder Hao Ming was on January 13, 2023. At that time, Hao was in a better state of mind, and his complexion recovered a little. He resolutely disagreed with all the charges against him and the accusation of fraud. Because he did not have a Bible in prison, Elder Hao Ming said that he meditated on the Apostles’ Creed on Sundays.

Arrested for “fraud”

The 65-year-old Elder Hao Ming was taken away by the Deyang police on November 17, 2021. Many church leaders were also taken away that day. Police detained Elder Hao Ming and Elder Wu Jiannan on suspicion of “fraud.” Other church leaders were released one after another. On Christmas Day, December 25, 2021, the families of Hao Ming and Wu Jiannan received notices of their arrest with the charge of suspected “fraud.”

Encouraging news from “Brother Li”

Last week, in addition to meeting Elder Hao Ming, Attorney Zhu also met Brother Li and others in another city. Brother Li said that he often dreamt of the times he went to the homes of other church members. That used to be so simple, but now these things seem out of reach. He said that in the face of adversity, some people run away while others fight with their flesh. Still, some know their weaknesses but rely on the Lord to guide their way forward.

Increased faith

Another church member said that he used to only have enough faith to spend two to three years in prison for the Lord, but now he has the confidence to spend eight to ten. As a lawyer, Attorney Zhu hoped that it would not end like this, but the brother’s confidence grew so much that he was surprised and grateful.

Encouraging news from “Brother Han”

Attorney Zhu said he remembered Brother Han who said that his jailmate said that he was very suitable for prison. When other people were locked in prison, they all said that they were unlucky and restless, and their wives were leaving them. Yet Brother Han used this time and memorized the dictionary, exercised, and slept soundly. He said that his body is not free, but his soul is free and cannot be locked up. The Holy Spirit lifts a person to perform amazing feats that seem effortless.

Poetry from a jailed Christian

One of the Christians Zhu visited wrote a poem:

Do you have such a life,

Such a life that longs for death,

More deaths,

But also more life.

like a grain of wheat,

grow out of its body,

higher than its sky,

to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Behold the obedience of the afflicted.

No matter how painful, how bitter,

how much hate, how much love,

entrusted all to,

His omnipotence and His absolute goodness.

~ Yu Bing, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid

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Hope in prison: encouraging reports from a Chinese defense lawyer

Elder Hao Ming reads in prison, an encouraging report for Christians

Photo: The retired elder of Qingcaodi Church, Hao Ming, continues to read in prison (ChinaAid source)

(Deyang, Sichuan province—March 14, 2023) Elder Hao Ming, the imprisoned former elder of Qingcaodi Church, met with his defense attorney this week. The lawyer also met with other individuals that all brought encouraging news.

Editor’s note: Because the Chinese authorities have recently exerted severe pressure on attorneys and family members of some clients, the real names of other clients and lawyers other than Hao Ming are not included in this story. Instead, ChinaAid has only included the surnames of other Christians and lawyers.

Update from Elder Hao Ming

Attorney Zhu revealed that Elder Hao Ming is in good health, but when his mother was mentioned, he still wept. During this meeting, Attorney Zhu learned that Elder Hao Ming was recently reading a theological book, On Being a Theologian of the Cross. Elder Hao made many comments inside the book. When the lawyer asked Elder Hao Ming if he would forgive those who framed him for “fraud,” he responded that as long as they repented, he would forgive them. He specifically mentioned a brother Liu who was suffering from depression, saying that he could sympathize with Liu’s weakness.

Their previous visit

The last time Zhu met with Elder Hao Ming was on January 13, 2023. At that time, Hao was in a better state of mind, and his complexion recovered a little. He resolutely disagreed with all the charges against him and the accusation of fraud. Because he did not have a Bible in prison, Elder Hao Ming said that he meditated on the Apostles’ Creed on Sundays.

Arrested for “fraud”

The 65-year-old Elder Hao Ming was taken away by the Deyang police on November 17, 2021. Many church leaders were also taken away that day. Police detained Elder Hao Ming and Elder Wu Jiannan on suspicion of “fraud.” Other church leaders were released one after another. On Christmas Day, December 25, 2021, the families of Hao Ming and Wu Jiannan received notices of their arrest with the charge of suspected “fraud.”

Encouraging news from “Brother Li”

Last week, in addition to meeting Elder Hao Ming, Attorney Zhu also met Brother Li and others in another city. Brother Li said that he often dreamt of the times he went to the homes of other church members. That used to be so simple, but now these things seem out of reach. He said that in the face of adversity, some people run away while others fight with their flesh. Still, some know their weaknesses but rely on the Lord to guide their way forward.

Increased faith

Another church member said that he used to only have enough faith to spend two to three years in prison for the Lord, but now he has the confidence to spend eight to ten. As a lawyer, Attorney Zhu hoped that it would not end like this, but the brother’s confidence grew so much that he was surprised and grateful.

Encouraging news from “Brother Han”

Attorney Zhu said he remembered Brother Han who said that his jailmate said that he was very suitable for prison. When other people were locked in prison, they all said that they were unlucky and restless, and their wives were leaving them. Yet Brother Han used this time and memorized the dictionary, exercised, and slept soundly. He said that his body is not free, but his soul is free and cannot be locked up. The Holy Spirit lifts a person to perform amazing feats that seem effortless.

Poetry from a jailed Christian

One of the Christians Zhu visited wrote a poem:

Do you have such a life,

Such a life that longs for death,

More deaths,

But also more life.

like a grain of wheat,

grow out of its body,

higher than its sky,

to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Behold the obedience of the afflicted.

No matter how painful, how bitter,

how much hate, how much love,

entrusted all to,

His omnipotence and His absolute goodness.

~ Yu Bing, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid

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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