New round of persecution: several pastors Arrested or convicted 

Photo: Living Stone Reformed Church calls out for prayer in new round of persecution (ChinaAid source)

(China) A new round of persecution begins in China as several pastors and Christians have been arrested on arbitrary charges. 

 

Gao Goujie 

Beijing Christian entrepreneur Gao Guojie was arrested on September 24, 2022 for suspected fraud. Police classified a financial transaction between him and another entrepreneur as fraud. His wife Zhou Dahui has asked Christians to pray for them. 

 

Pastor Wan Changchun 

On April 11, 2023, Pastor Wan Changchun of the Living Stone Reformed Church in Bengbu City, Anhui Province was arrested while serving in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. His charge was suspicion of illegal business operations. The authorities currently hold Pastor Wan in the Bengbu City Detention Center. After Pastor Wan was arrested, police questioned his wife and the church’s leadership. All the church accounts were frozen and audited. Three days after Pastor Wan’s arrest, police ransacked his home.  

 

Preacher Chang Hao 

Meanwhile, on April 14, Preacher Chang Hao was taken away by authorities. He led a small rural church in Zhenxiong County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. Authorities siezed his Bibles, spiritual books, and COVID face masks with gospel verses. It remains unclear whether Preacher Chang Hao has been detained. Her wife sent a prayer request asking Christians to pray. 

 

Beijing Dengtai Church 

Recently, the case against Pastor Qin Sifeng of Beijing Dengtai Church and church staff Su Minjun for “illegal business operations” recently opened trial. The outcome of the trial is still unknown. In Yunnan around July 2022, Shandong Zibo police arrested Pastor Qin and Su Minjun while they served. This was an extraterritorial jurisdictional arrest. On August 5, 2022, the Zibo police announced their arrest under the charge of illegal business operations and detained them in the Zibo Detention Center. Beijing Dengtai Church has printed some hymn books and theological materials for internal use of the church. It is reported that on the day of the trial, Pastor Qin Sifeng and Su Minjun appeared in handcuffs and shackles, just like felons. Defense attorneys made a plea of ​​not guilty, but the family members said that the case was already determined by the higher authorities. The local police and authorities were only enforcing a predetermined sentence. Yet Pastor Qin Sifeng says he wishes to be sentenced soon so that he can leave the detention center and begin preaching the gospel in prison. 

 

Persecuted online meetings 

Christians have never stopped being convicted for their faith, even in this new round of persecution. It is reported that a preacher in a certain place in Guizhou was also detained for participating in Christian Zoom meetings. Nonetheless, house churches in China continue to hold fast in their faith despite these many difficulties and hardships. 

 

~Yu Bing, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid 

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New round of persecution: several pastors Arrested or convicted 

Photo: Living Stone Reformed Church calls out for prayer in new round of persecution (ChinaAid source)

(China) A new round of persecution begins in China as several pastors and Christians have been arrested on arbitrary charges. 

 

Gao Goujie 

Beijing Christian entrepreneur Gao Guojie was arrested on September 24, 2022 for suspected fraud. Police classified a financial transaction between him and another entrepreneur as fraud. His wife Zhou Dahui has asked Christians to pray for them. 

 

Pastor Wan Changchun 

On April 11, 2023, Pastor Wan Changchun of the Living Stone Reformed Church in Bengbu City, Anhui Province was arrested while serving in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. His charge was suspicion of illegal business operations. The authorities currently hold Pastor Wan in the Bengbu City Detention Center. After Pastor Wan was arrested, police questioned his wife and the church’s leadership. All the church accounts were frozen and audited. Three days after Pastor Wan’s arrest, police ransacked his home.  

 

Preacher Chang Hao 

Meanwhile, on April 14, Preacher Chang Hao was taken away by authorities. He led a small rural church in Zhenxiong County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. Authorities siezed his Bibles, spiritual books, and COVID face masks with gospel verses. It remains unclear whether Preacher Chang Hao has been detained. Her wife sent a prayer request asking Christians to pray. 

 

Beijing Dengtai Church 

Recently, the case against Pastor Qin Sifeng of Beijing Dengtai Church and church staff Su Minjun for “illegal business operations” recently opened trial. The outcome of the trial is still unknown. In Yunnan around July 2022, Shandong Zibo police arrested Pastor Qin and Su Minjun while they served. This was an extraterritorial jurisdictional arrest. On August 5, 2022, the Zibo police announced their arrest under the charge of illegal business operations and detained them in the Zibo Detention Center. Beijing Dengtai Church has printed some hymn books and theological materials for internal use of the church. It is reported that on the day of the trial, Pastor Qin Sifeng and Su Minjun appeared in handcuffs and shackles, just like felons. Defense attorneys made a plea of ​​not guilty, but the family members said that the case was already determined by the higher authorities. The local police and authorities were only enforcing a predetermined sentence. Yet Pastor Qin Sifeng says he wishes to be sentenced soon so that he can leave the detention center and begin preaching the gospel in prison. 

 

Persecuted online meetings 

Christians have never stopped being convicted for their faith, even in this new round of persecution. It is reported that a preacher in a certain place in Guizhou was also detained for participating in Christian Zoom meetings. Nonetheless, house churches in China continue to hold fast in their faith despite these many difficulties and hardships. 

 

~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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