(Xi’an, China — June 7, 2025) The Xi’an Church of Abundance, under the prominent Chinese house church network “Chinese Gospel Fellowship,” issued a prayer letter on June 5, 2025, revealing that Pastor Lian Changnian, who had been detained for two years and eight months on charges of “fraud” due to his faith, was released on bail and returned home on April 12 of this year. However, due to severe psychological and physical abuse suffered during detention, he has been diagnosed with a mental illness and is currently hospitalized to receive treatment.
Ongoing Persecution of Pastor Lian Changnian and the Xi’an Church of Abundance
Pastor Lian Changnian and the Xi’an Church of Abundance have long been subjected to persecution. Pastor Lian Changnian has been imprisoned multiple times himself. The most recent arrest occurred on August 17, 2022, when Pastor Lian Changnian, Pastor Lian Xuliang, and preacher Fu Juan were arrested on suspicion of “fraud” and subsequently placed under Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location and secretly detained at a government-designated site.
Torture and Psychological Deterioration During Detention
According to the prayer letter, the three individuals endured torture during their confinement, including starvation, beatings, forced ingestion of unidentified drugs, and prolonged denial of access to restrooms, all classic methods of coercive interrogation. As early as 2023, Lian Changnian’s lawyer observed signs of mental instability. By a meeting on September 10, 2024, the lawyer noted that Lian’s condition had severely worsened, with signs of cognitive decline and hallucinations. He was afraid to sleep day or night, constantly fearing he would be drugged or even strangled to death.
Conditional Release and Immediate Medical Attention
Although the case has yet to go to trial, through the persistent efforts of their legal counsel, Pastor Lian Changnian and the two others were released on bail on April 12, 2025, and reunited with their families. Upon returning home, Lian Changnian was immediately taken to Xi’an Mental Health Center for evaluation and underwent an MRI of the cervical spine.
Shocking Medical Findings and Hospitalization
The initial medical diagnosis given by the doctors was shocking:
- Organic mental disorder
- State of Anxiety, severe whole-brain fatigue
The MRI results also showed Cervical vertebral bone hyperplasia with multiple disc herniation and edema. Doctors recommended hospitalization, and Pastor Lian was admitted for treatment on June 3.
Long-Term Harm from Detention Conditions
The prayer letter emphasized that during his detention under Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location, Pastor Lian Changnian was subjected to intimidation, threats, and abuse by the authorities. As a result, he was unable to sleep lying down for the entire two years and eight months of his detention, and both his physical and mental health have been gravely damaged.
A Call for Global Prayer and Justice
Xi’an Church of Abundance earnestly asks brothers and sisters around the world to continue praying for the church:
- Pray that God will heal Pastor Lian Changnian in body, mind, and spirit.
- Pray that God’s justice will prevail in this case and that His works will be made known.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Lemon of ChinaAid)