Photo: Zhang Chenghao (left) and Minister An Yankui from Zion Reformed Church (ChinaAid source)
(Taiyuan, China—November 28, 2022) Minister An Yankui and coworker Zhang Chenghao of Zion Reformed Church were released after serving their sentence. Yao Congya, An Yankui’s wife, disclosed that the two ministers could not return to their home and reunite with their wives due to the pandemic lockdown, so they went to their hometown first and waited there. An and Zhang were slimmer than before but seemed to be in high spirits. After going back to his hometown, An Yankui communicated with his wife, son, and daughter via video chat. Minister An Yankui wrote hymns, composed music and wrote lyrics during his imprisonment.
Photo: Zhang and An immediately after their release (ChinaAid source)
After a Sunday service last November, Minister An Yankui and Zhang Chenghao were criminally detained on suspicion of “crossing the national border illegally” by Shanxi Province Fenyang Municipal Bureau of Public Security and were detained at Fangshan County Detention Center and Xiaoyi Detention Center respectively. On the morning of August 5, 2022, Fenyang Court tried An and Zhang. Authorities did not inform Yao Congya and Guo Juan, Zhang Chenghao’s wife, of their husbands’ verdict until November 7. An Yankui was sentenced to a year and given a fine of 5,000 yuan (~$690), and Zhang Chenghao received a similar sentence of a year and a fine of 4,000 yuan (~$550).
The five hymns Minister An Yankui wrote while being imprisoned are “Verses in Prison;” “West of the Mountain;” “Beloved Wife of my Life;” “Man without Faith;” and “Jesus’ Heel.” ChinaAid has translated them.
An authored “Verses in Prison” in July, reflecting on the simple and poor prison life and his praise to God:
One year is gone as winter is over
Two prison officers regardless of the scorching heat or freezing cold
Tasteless veggies and hard bread each meal
Look at the sky in the four-wall ceil
Counting days busing five fingers is a daily routine
60% of hair turns gray
Sunday is holy in the seven-day week
The eight directions of creation are wonderful and harmonious.
Humans know the Lord’s Love with days going
Sing the grace of the cross while journeying.
“West of the Mountain” was written on August 1, revealing An’s sorrow and heartbrokenness for Shanxi that resists the gospel:
Scars of Taihang Mount, the work of numerous knives and axes
The massacre in the past.
Bumps on Lvliang Mount are devastating and the lost land
West of the Mount, the hard soil of the spine
Garden of Eden has become a legend
Seeds of the gospel, promises of blessings
Wild desert becomes the source of life
Does roaring sand ask when it will clear and have breeze and moon?
How thirsty is Fen River, drink the Holy Spirit which can heal the weak.
West of the Mount, mob of people
How has the long history become a burden?
Seeds of the gospel, eternality of resurrection
I am born again in Jesus Christ.
An wrote “Beloved Wife of my Life” on August 11. He expressed his romantic love in Christ to his wife Yao Congya:
You and I are destined to be together, we connect parents and comfort kids
We went through beautiful youth together and have raised devout children
My clothes carry the fragrance of your work, my body has the memory of your love
My soul beats with the song resonating with you, my smile has your sweet tears
Storm tests people’s manners, oppression makes people stronger
You suffer with me in my affliction, you are remembered in the Lord’s glory
My beloved wife, I miss you and care for you
The queen endures the shame of a widow, hands with the chain’s mark
However, those who don’t have husbands have more children
Because Jehovah has selected you, love conquers all in Christ.
“Jesus’s Heel” was written on September 1. It illustrates the grand salvation that Jesus achieved by dying on the cross for the world and how his followers will resurrect with him:
Jesus’ heel has the mark of the nail put on the cross, he spread the gospel in the entire Galilee
He faced Jerusalem and obeyed the Father’s will, he died, resurrected, and is risen, which is salvation
Emmanuel, grace is the Lord, Jesus is God
Sinners’ soul is filled with darkness, but He shines in the world
Jesus’ heel stemples on the head of the serpent, he sits at the right hand of Father, enemies serve as his stool
Glory will descend on the predestined day
All mouths and all knees will acknowledge his holy name
Hallelujah, the Lord is precious, Jesus is the Father’s only son
It is the Lord’s gift to wash his feet and tie his shoes
Why do I fall behind while walking with Jesus, why am I filled with concerns and doubt and often stop while walking?
However, the Lord has called those who put a hand to the plow, so don’t look back, press on instead.
Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, Jesus Christ is my life
Even if I suffer and die with him, I will definitely resurrect with him.
On September 11, An penned “Man Without Faith” and reflected on his own faith in Christ:
I can’t see the Lord with my eyes and often feel lost in the wilderness
But all of the heavens declare his glory, and faith can touch the work of his hand
Persecution strips me of freedom and affliction takes away what I love
But the thorn crown is anointed by the oil, and the real wealth is stored in heaven
The cross went through the Golgatha, treading steps are aimless
But only Jehovah refines humans’ heart, the world doesn’t deserve the promised children
Man can’t gain the delightful testimony without faith because the invisible God will award those who seek him
Man can’t see the heavenly kingdom without faith, the eternal abundance is poured into the soul and becomes joy
Man would be weary and disillusioned without faith, the sky is high, the road is long, but the Lord is the author and finisher of our faith
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Contributing Reporter
