Trial of Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu Begins Amidst Allegations of Religious Persecution
(Hefei, Anhui Province, China – May 23, 2025) On May 21, 2023, Hefei Ganquan Church revealed in a public prayer letter that the trial of Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu, who are accused of “fraud” because of their faith, will begin on May 26th to 28th. Prior to the trial, many believers have received threatening phone calls and have been threatened not to testify in court or participate in the trial.
Hefei Ganquan Church Leaders Face ‘Fraud’ Charges in Upcoming Trial
Pastor Songlin Zhou and Elder Zhongfu Ding were arrested on November 30, 2023, due to religious persecution, and have been innocently imprisoned for nearly a year and a half. Shortly after their arrest, the local prosecutor’s office charged them with “fraud.” On July 31, 2024, the first pre-trial conference was held at the Shushan District People’s Court in Hefei City.
At that pre-court meeting, the attorneys suggested that the prosecutor had failed to fulfill his duties, resulting in many problems with the indictment, and the prosecutor was silent that he had to suspend the meeting early.
Despite Legal Challenges, Pastors Zhou and Ding Continue to Shepherd Christ’s Flock
The second pre-court conference was held on October 15, 2024 in the morning. The two pastors, Pastor Songlin Zhou and Elder Zhongfu Ding, smiled through the window as they met with their families and church brothers and sisters.
The meeting started at 9:00 a.m. and didn’t end until almost 6:00 p.m.. Ten of the twelve topics originally scheduled for discussion were completed, and the remaining two were postponed by negotiation until the court session.
The pastor still insisted on shepherding Christ’s flock while in prison, which is a precious tradition of the church, manifesting the faithfulness to God of servant leaders called by God Himself.
prayer letter
In yesterday’s prayer letter, Hefei Ganquan Church implores five matters of prayers:
- Pray that the Lord would keep Pastors Zhou Songlin and Ding Zhongfu in good health and good spirituality to witness for the Lord!
- Please pray that the Lord will give the lawyers wisdom and courage to plead not guilty for the two pastors!
- Pray that the congregation will have strong and courageous hearts to bear true witness with boldness!
- Pray that the Lord would work in the heart of the judge, so that she would hear the case according to her conscience!
- Pray that the Lord would prepare the hearts of those who came to court to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and know the true God!
(Reported by special correspondent Ningmeng for China Aid Association)
