(Linfen, Shanxi province）Recently, attorneys visited the three imprisoned members of Linfen Covenant House Church. Pastor Li Jie, Pastor Han Xiaodong, and co-worker Wang Qiang were all charged with “fraud” for accepting tithes and offerings.
Good Health
According to the defense attorneys, these three Christians are in good health. Wang Qiang specifically asked about other Christians of his church. Police notified his wife Wen Huijuan to pick up some of his personal belongings.
Pastor Han Xiaodong
Pastor Han Xiaodong’s mother is also a preacher. His father is a teacher. Han was once a teacher at Linfen No. 1 Middle School. He resigned from his job and became a full-time pastor. Both his parents were opposed to his resignation. However, after Han was arrested, his father asked his lawyer to tell his son not to worry about his family. His parents helped take care of his children.
A son, husband, and father
Before he was arrested, Han would take on his normal responsibilities as a son, husband, and father. According to Han’s parents, Pastor Han Xiaodong’s wife Chen Ying took a lot of burdens after her husband’s arrest.
Han Xiaodong’s response
During the visit with his attorney Pastor Han Xiaodong reflected on his circumstances. “Persecution is a blessing. I’m willing to imitate Jeremiah to pray for peace for his city,” he said. “One day, we will all understand that all of these are meaningful. May God bless us in persecution and turn hatred into grace. May persecutors testify for Jesus someday. I hope my children do not grow up in hatred, but instead, grow up in love and grace.”
Pastor Li Jie
Pastor Li Jie was moved to tears when he heard that Han’s parents decided to take care of Han’s family. He said that Pastor Han Xiaodong has a very strong faith in God. Li Jie told his family that he loved them, “but don’t just live, because you will regret it. Live for God instead, and you will have peace in your mind.”
Hardened criminals
While he was in prison, Li Jie noticed that most prisoners have little to no education. Most of them have major issues in their families. For example, there is a 27-year-old man who cannot even write his name. He has been sent to the detention center nine times for theft. According to Pastor Li Jie, none of the prisoners regret their crimes. They just think they had bad luck. Even the thieves and rapists are proud of their crimes.
God’s law
Pastor Li was troubled by their attitude. The prisoners only know China’s law, but they have never learned the law of God. They only know the Chinese court but are unaware of God’s trial. Li Jie said everyone in the detention center claims themselves innocent. Meanwhile, everyone who goes to church calls themselves sinners. Churches are not perfect, but God consecrates and sanctifies them.
Pastor Li’s own struggles
Amid the depravity, Pastor Li Jie did not hate any of his fellow prisoners. He said he once was weak and even thought about giving up. Other inmates told him that he may receive a life sentence or capital punishment because his case was transferred to Linfen City People’s Procuratorate. Li understands that everyone could be weak at some point, but you can’t remain weak forever, unless you are not God’s child. God will use various means to save you from weakness and sin.
“Please trust I’m free, Li told his wife. “The prison is where I meet with God and experience His Grace!
Bridging gaps
Several other older Christians from another church were also in Yaodu District Detention Center. They misunderstood young Christians like Li Jie, considering those like him as apostates. However, after they experienced persecution and saw the faithfulness of Li Jie and others, they began to pray for them. God bridged the gap between the two generations.
Background
Linfen Covenant House Church, a reformed house church, was persecuted for refusing to join China’s official Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) church. During an outdoor family camp held by the house church on August 19, 2022, more than 100 police raided the event and arrested many congregants. It was then that Pastor Li Jie, Pastor Han Xiaodong, and Wang Qiang were detained for “fraud.”
Residential Surveillance at Designated Location
Initially, Li Jie and his wife Li Shanshan were held under residential surveillance at a designated location (RSDL) with Han Xiaodong. Police later released Li Shanshan on bail, but they transferred her husband and Han Xiaodong to Yaodu District Detention Center. In early November 2022, co-worker Wang Qiang was criminally detained after he was held in RSDL for a week.
Legal perspective
According to the attorneys, religious freedom is a basic human right. The government should not suppress religious freedom using criminal means. Whether Linfen Covenant House Church is a registered church or not, they did not defraud anyone of their money. Besides, the defense attorneys noticed several major issues in this case. Investigative organs adopted RSDL, compelled confessions through torture, and created a case first before forcing so-called “victims” to report.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
