(Linfen, Shanxi – April 8, 2025) Twelve devout Christians from the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen were forcibly brought to trial under blatantly politically motivated charges of “fraud” today. The courthouse was heavily guarded like a military zone, with all Christians strictly prohibited from approaching the site.
“Marshall-Law-like” operations targeted at the Golden Lampstand Church
Eyewitnesses reported that every road from Dongcheng in Linfen to Yaoxian Street and Wuyi East Road was under tight control, with a large number of police and traffic officers stationed at each intersection as if facing a significant threat. The Yaodu District Court was surrounded by layers of armed police, like forming a fortress, heartlessly blocking out anxious families and fellow Christians.
Shockingly, marshall law operations began even the night before. Drones were circling overhead for surveillance. Many church members of the Golden Lampstand Church had already received warnings and were strictly forbidden from going near the courthouse. Even more disturbing, unidentified individuals were seen surveilling villages, taking turns to guard key exits day and night to block Christians from leaving. Some Christians had unknown individuals stationed outside their homes, while village officials went door to door threatening believers. Schools also pressured Christian parents, forcing them to sign pledges not to participate in the trial of the Golden Lampstand Church.
It is precisely because of this level of fear and control displayed by the authorities that exposes their intense suppression of religious freedom and deep fear of the truth.
Church issued prayer request letter as the 12 church members face trials
According to reliable sources, in an effort to further isolate and suppress the church, the Yaodu District Court had secretly decided as early as March 5 to forcefully split the originally unified trial of 12 co-workers into separate cases. Today, the first group of 10 Christians to face trial includes: Li Shuangping, Zhao Guoai, Huo Zhuangping, Dong Yongyong, Feng Junying, Wu Ling’e, Wang Xianfeng, Yang Hongzhen, Chen Qinglan, and Li Qin. The high-profile couple of the church, Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli, are scheduled to face a separate trial on April 17.
The verdict has not yet been known.
Before today’s absurd trial, the Golden Lampstand Church issued a heartbreaking prayer letter, urging Christians around the world to urgently pray for these faithful pastors and coworkers — asking God to grant them strength and courage from the Lord to bear fearless witness for their faith in court. Moreover, the church called for just and courageous lawyers to stand up and offer strong defense on their behalf.
Background of the Golden Lampstand Church and the ongoing oppression from the Chinese government
This case has received significant attention since August 2021, when authorities brought charges against them for “fraud,” alleging that the church’s acceptance of donations constituted illegal activity. Even more shocking is that these 12 steadfast Christians were arrested as early as August 7, 2021, and have been deprived of their freedom in detention for three years and eight months. The legal disputes faced by members of the Golden Lampstand Church have extended far beyond the scope of a typical criminal case and have become a notable illustration of the Chinese government’s stringent crackdown on religious groups.
Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, a leader of churches in Northwest China, has long been dedicated to spreading the Christian gospel and building up faith. His gentleness and perseverance are what made Golden Lampstand Church a spiritual home for many local Christians. It is precisely this unwavering faith and fearless pursuit of faith that caused him to become a target of the authorities’ suppression. Pastor Wang’s wife, Yang Rongli, on the other hand, has been a steadfast support behind him. Her kindness and wisdom have not only united the church community but also brought the light of hope to countless lost souls. Despite facing immense pressure, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang and his wife, Yang Rongli, have never abandoned their faith. This perseverance has become their greatest strength in the face of the court’s trial.
The Chinese government’s tactic in accusing the Church on “fraud” charges
The Golden Lampstand Church case is no longer a simple legal matter. Since August 2021, charges against the church members have gradually become more apparent, with the core issue focusing on the church’s financial management, specifically on the use of offerings and tithes. Offerings and tithes are a normal means of financial support in Christian practice. However, in China, such practices are often perceived as a threat to the government’s control over religious activities, ultimately becoming an excuse for political suppression. To the Golden Lampstand Church and its members, every donation has become an accusation that they cannot avoid, and every expression of faith has been treated as a crime against political authority.
Those familiar with the case know that, one month prior, authorities conducted a sweeping inspection across all communities in Linfen, Shanxi, focusing mainly on identifying “key members” of house churches. Preachers from other regions associated with Golden Lampstand Church were also taken away for investigation and questioning. Ultimately, however, the authorities targeted the core members of Golden Lampstand Church. It is evident that this is a case of false accusation.
Prolonged interrogation, delayed court proceedings, and lengthy detention faced by the victims
Following the outbreak of the case, some church members were detained and subjected to prolonged interrogation. From the beginning of the case, church members faced detention and questioning. During the court proceedings, members were repeatedly pressured to accept government-appointed lawyers — these lawyers often maintain close ties with authorities, lack independence, and are unable to defend the church effectively. According to reports, some church members, under immense psychological and legal pressure, opted for “release on guarantee prior to trial.” In contrast, those church members who refused to compromise with the authorities remained in detention.
The court proceedings were deliberately delayed. In March 2023, the case entered the trial phase, but the court postponed and intentionally delayed hearings three times, maintaining a state of no progress until April 2025. This fully exposes the injustice within China’s judicial system in handling religious cases and the severe repression of religious freedom. The prolonged trial process and the lack of clear legal resolution over several years have undoubtedly imposed a tremendous mental and physical burden on those involved.
In addition, the government frequently uses economic means to suppress religious groups, specifically targeting areas of finance, risk, and donations. The Chinese government weakens the church’s social influence by seizing church property and accusing church members of misusing funds or engaging in “fraudulent” acts. For Golden Lampstand Church, the issue of donations has been used by authorities as a core reason for suppression — a practice that constitutes a serious violation of religious freedom.
The Golden Lampstand Church as an example of the Chinese government’s broad oppression against religious freedom for all
The case of Golden Lampstand Church is not merely an isolated incident of religious suppression; it is a reflection of the broader state of religious freedom in China. All religious groups that are without government approval face immense pressure to survive. House churches and “underground” Catholic communities, in particular, almost universally suffer from harsh government policies and legal sanctions. Although the Chinese Constitution states that religious freedom is protected, in practice, all religious activities must be subject to government oversight. Unregistered religious groups have virtually no legal protection, and their space for activity continues to shrink — even personal expressions of faith are subject to strict surveillance.
The plight of the Golden Lampstand Church is not only a sorrowful journey for its members but, even more so, the profound interrogation of the state of religious freedom in Chinese society. The perseverance and courage of the church community have become a voice that cannot be ignored within Chinese society, even under such intense legal and political pressure.
For Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, Pastor Wang’s wife Yang Rongli, and the other church members, the trial in the future is not merely a legal confrontation — it is a rigorous test of the justness of China’s religious policies. The encounter of Golden Lampstand Church has also become a focal point of international concern regarding religious freedom in China, highlighting that the power of faith and freedom remains an irreplaceable spiritual cornerstone even in this era of globalization.
General Introduction of The Golden Lampstand Church
The Golden Lampstand Church, located in Shanxi, is a megachurch that adheres to the house church practices. It started as a small group of around 20 people, and after years of development, it has now grown to 50,000 members, becoming a significant force of faith in the local community. However, because the church refuses to join the “Three-Self Patriotic Association” organized by the Chinese government and steadfastly refuses to register with the Religious Affairs Bureau, it has repeatedly faced coercion and suppression.
The founders of the church, Wang Xiaoguang, and Yang Rongli, were originally public servants at Shanxi Normal University. In 1998, they resigned and dedicated themselves full-time to church work. Yang Rongli was born into a Christian family and is a fifth-generation Christian. From 26 members, Golden Lampstand Church rapidly grew to 50,000 members and became a sensitive issue for the local government. It is an increase of thousands of times. Wang Xiaoguang is a soldier for Christ who is considered “zealous” in his faith. To weaken the church’s influence, the government employed methods such as cutting off water and electricity, and since 2004, Golden Lampstand Church has frequently been persecuted by the authorities.
The 9.13 Linfen Church Case
The most notable incident was the “9.13 Linfen Church Case” in the early morning of September 13, 2009. On that day, the government of Fushan County deployed over 500 police officers and plainclothes officers and Golden Lampstand Church’s gathering site and its Gospel Shoe Factory, violently beating members who were resting in the dormitories, injuring hundreds of people, some of whom had to be sent to the hospital for treatment. The government also used bulldozers to destroy church buildings and seized property, including televisions, refrigerators, and vehicles.
Subsequently, on September 23, the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen was surrounded by armed police. On September 25, Yang Rongli and six other co-workers were intercepted by the police while making their way to Taiyuan in an attempt to petition. They were met with the government’s suggestion to purchase Golden Lampstand Church for 10 million yuan (~1.4 million United States Dollar), but Yang Rongli firmly refused.
Pastor’s house raided and along with co-workers got sentenced to prison
Soon after, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang’s home was raided on October 8, and on October 11, Yang Rongli was criminally detained by the Public Security Bureau of Linfen City on charges of “illegal occupation of farmland” and “gathering a mob to create public disturbance of order.” In early November, nine church co-workers were criminally detained. On November 25, Linfen City Court sentenced Yang Rongli to seven years in prison and fined her 30,000 yuan, while Pastor Wang Xiaoguang was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 10,000 yuan. Other co-workers received different sentences.
Co-worker Yang Xuan was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and fined 20,000 yuan; Co-worker Cui Jiaxing was sentenced to five and a half years in prison and fined 50,000 yuan; Co-worker Zhang Huamei was sentenced to four years in prison. On November 30 of the same year, five leaders, including Li Shuangping and his wife, were sentenced to two years of re-education labor camp.
Church’s meeting sites forced to shut down and Churches got demolished
More than thirty meeting sites of Golden Lampstand Church were shut down. The faith of the church members faced severe repression. Pastor Wang Xiaoguang was released from prison in 2012, and Yang Rongli was released in 2016. Local religious bureau officials demanded for the church that she was leading to join the government-controlled “Three-Self Patriotic Association,” but Yang repeatedly refused.
The government’s repression did not stop. On January 9, 2018, the Golden Lampstand Church building, constructed at a cost of 17 million yuan, was forcefully demolished by the government using explosives. On August 7, 2021, Yang Rongli, Wang Xiaoguang, and 12 other Christians were arrested again.
Church members in prison got denied access to family members’ funerals
It is heartbreaking that Zhao Guoai’s husband passed away on December 3, 2023, and her request to be released on guarantee prior to trial for the reason of attending his funeral was denied. Similarly, Li Shuangping’s mother passed away on January 16, 2025, and her request for release on guarantee prior to trial on the basis of attending her mother’s funeral was also rejected by the detention center. Despite facing repeated hardships and challenges, the members of Golden Lampstand Church have remained steadfast in their faith.
ChinaAid calls on the international community to advocate for the Golden Lampstand Church
This is not just a struggle for faith but also a defense of freedom, dignity, and human rights. The story of Golden Lampstand Church continues to spark widespread attention and discussion in Chinese society. As the whole world watches as the case unfolds, ChinaAid strongly condemns this persecution and firmly stands in solidarity with the church community of the Golden Lampstand Church. We call on the international community to pay urgent attention to this horrifying case and to issue the strongest appeal to the Chinese government to immediately end the brutal persecution of Christians, release all religious individuals falsely accused, and protect citizens’ most basic right to freedom of religion.
Related News Coverage
Linfen Pastors Protest Destruction of Golden Lampstand Church (Apr, 2010)
Wife of Linfen Church Leader Released on Medical Parole (May, 2011)
Persecuted Linfen Church Writes Open Letter to President Xi Jinping (Jun, 2013)
Christian Today: Chinese Megachurch Pastor Released After Seven Years In Prison (Oct, 2016)
Golden Lampstand Church: 16 months without trial (Dec, 2022)
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)