(Linfen, Shanxi province) Wang Qiang, a co-worker of Linfen Covenant House Church in Shanxi, wrote a letter from prison to his wife. He has no regrets about being imprisoned because of his faith, and that he fully submits to God’s will. Wang encourages his wife to practice godliness, patience, maturity, hope, faith, love, and joy with him, and to encourage each other to walk Journey to heaven.
ChinaAid received a copy of the letter, translated below:
Dear Wife,
The memory that impacted me the most this year is that before I left, you said to me, “Hubby, don’t be afraid, as long as you can persevere through these 37 days”. These words deeply settled in my heart, and filled me with your encouragement and comfort, they conveyed to me your strength, confidence, and firmness. Maybe, you also had doubts, worries, or little faith at that time, but the Lord was among you and me. Through your comforting words, our Lord has comforted me, strengthened me, and expelled the timidity, fear, and small faith from my heart. This truly gave me strength and resolution, because of the faith that the Father has given me, and I firmly believe that “He is the King over all”. He is the Lord in the midst of us, who comforts and strengthens us, who unites us, He is our Christ. Our Father, the Savior who redeemed you and me at a great cost, is the King over all the earth, the King who was, is and is to come forever and ever.
History is His, and what a blessing and honor it truly is for us to be a part of His history, in His history! What is even more shocking is that this history is His love for us, His true salvation for us, and this is the fullness of His love for us, that He is our Lord so that you and I “are the Lord’s people whether we live or die.”
I still remember clearly the scene when you said to me, “Hubby, as long as you can persevere through these 37 days,” and it was so warm. The Lord’s love is like a living water, He surrounds us tightly and connects our hearts, never to be separated! Looking back now, even though these 37 days were so long, I am completely obedient because it is the Lord’s time and I have no complaints. So don’t blame yourself or have any regrets! I believe we both are willing to suffer it.
In the detention center, the TV often shows the liberation war and revolutionary TV dramas, and the army men couldn’t go home for years for the cause of the revolution, but I see the detention center as a place for me to go to war as a Christian, and to join the army for the cause of the kingdom of God, so how glorious and joyful I am, and I am willing to suffer 10 “37 days”! For through these things, our Lord refines and renews us. During my stay in the detention center, I reflected many times on my experiences since I was a child, counted God’s grace, and saw my countless mistakes, falls, and growth. I also saw that I had sinned against God, and had fallen short of His glory many times and that my sins were so deep that only the Lord can cleanse me, and redeem me. Even now, during my stay in the detention center, I have seen my selfishness, self-righteousness, carnality, living for myself instead of for the Lord, not having grace, not fulfilling my Christian responsibility, and my evasion, etc. …… However, my Lord still loves me, and the Holy Spirit teaches me and admonishes me through the books, moving me, calling me, renewing me, and cleansing me. I know how insignificant and lowly I am!
We still have a long way to go in this heavenly journey, and we still need to practice more: godliness, patience, seasoning, hope, faith, love, joy, and encouragement. We need to press on in our Lord, looking unto Him who is the author and perfection of our faith, and who grants us faith and strength to follow in His footsteps! Let the Lord be my Lord and your Lord, the Lord who truly sits on the throne of your life and mine, relying on Him, steadfast in our hearts; Let us not drift, but persist with a clear purpose and clear path in mind, take up our crosses and follow Him. For it is He who says to us, “Come, follow Me.” And He will give us grace enough. For He has walked the way for us, and overcome sin and death for us! Where is the power of death, where is the poisonous sting of death? The Lord has won the battle! He is the victorious Lord! The victorious King!
May these words be written by a herald to you, to me, and brothers and sisters. May the Lord strengthen us and keep us, though I am in prison, and Minister Li and Minister Han are in prison, and you are out of it, yet the Lord is in the midst of you and me! In the midst of us all!
–Miss you and love you always, your husband: Qiang
Background
Linfen Covenant House Church has suffered severe persecution by the government for refusing to join the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). On the night of August 19, 2022, the church was stormed during an outdoor “family camp” event, and hundreds of policemen took church members away overnight. Li Jie, Han Xiaodong, and Wang Qiang were charged with suspected “fraud.” They were first charged with breach of the peace, then administratively detained, and then criminally charged. Preacher Li Jie, his wife Li Shanshan, and Han Xiaodong were placed under “residential surveillance” respectively by the Linfen Public Security Bureau. Li Shanshan was later released on bail pending trial. Later, Li Jie and Han Xiaodong were detained on criminal charges of “fraud”. And in early November 2022, Wang Qiang, a co-worker of the church was also detained with criminal charges after seven days of residential surveillance. The said case was returned to the Linfen Yaodu District People’s Procuratorate for additional investigation, and then sent to the Linfen Procuratorate on March 26, 2023, for formal prosecution on the charge of “fraud”.
Sinners, but not criminals
Linfen Covenant House Church has made many statements concerning the charges. They defended their right to tithe, saying that house church believers give following Biblical teachings. It does not violate any national laws. Whether a church is registered or not, none of the people involved can constitute fraud simply by tithing. “Before God，” the church wrote, “we confess that we are sinners; but in this absurd ‘fraud’ case, we will never.”
Pray for Linfen Covenant House Church
The three ministers, co-workers, and their wives have had wonderful testimonies of faith both inside and outside of prison. ChinaAid calls on its supporters to pray for the leaders of Linfen Covenant House Church.
~Lemon, Contributor to ChinaAid
