Pastor Sun Chenghao Faces Trial After Arrest for Trip to Jeju Island
(Zhangye, Gansu Province, China – April 21, 2025) Pastor Sun Chenghao of a house church in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, was arrested by Zhangye police in December 2023 after returning from a trip to Jeju Island, South Korea with other Christians in August 2023. He was later indicted by the prosecutor’s office on suspicion of “organizing others to illegally cross national borders.” A pre-trial conference for the case is scheduled for April 29, 2025.
Reflections from Detention: A Pastor’s Spiritual Confession
Recently, Pastor Sun reflected on his faith while in prison. He said:
” Here in detention, I saw my own sin.
I saw the shame deep in the soul.
These have nothing to do with the crimes I was charged with.
It is a deeper realization of my exposed and unguarded true self.
It made me understand His grace more deeply.
In my wife’s letters I see her spiritual growth.
She prays outside the detention center every day.
This makes me even more ashamed.
Why is it that when we’re together, I always accuse her of not working with me,
instead of just loving her well?
Actually, before marriage she was even more passionate about God than me.
I owe her so much.
This time, God is allowing us to grow together.
I still feel fear, I’m still afraid Like Daniel seeing lions nearby.
Although I know they won’t bite me.
The feeling brought by those living beasts is real.
Only through faith can I sleep peacefully.
What I’ve learned this time
Is more profound than what those famous theologians taught me in seminary.
I was planning to pursue a doctorate in theology before
I think this is my doctoral program.”
A Life Devoted to the Gospel
Born in 1982, Pastor Sun Chenghao is an ethnic Korean Chinese who moved with his pastor father from Northeast China to Zhangye, Gansu to spread the gospel. Influenced by his father’s reverence for God and concern for lost souls, he was called by God and dedicated himself to full-time ministry at a young age.
Trip to Jeju Island: Legal Travel, Unjust Charges
In August 2023, Pastor Sun and friends traveled to Jeju Island, South Korea for sightseeing through official channels, purchasing plane tickets on regular platforms and clearing customs normally. Throughout the Jeju Island trip, Pastor Sun never collected any fees from anyone, and only created a WeChat group called “Jeju Island Free Travel” to facilitate communication.
After the trip, everyone returned to China normally through customs. However, on December 15, 2023, the Zhangye Public Security Bureau detained Pastor Sun on suspicion of “organizing others to illegally cross national borders” and held him in the Ganzhou District Detention Center in Zhangye City.
Jeju Island is a visa-free destination, so there is no possibility of illegally crossing borders as charged by prosecutors. The government’s accusations are completely fabricated.
A Wife’s Faith and a Family’s Plea for Prayer
With the pre-trial conference approaching and spiritual warfare intensifying, on April 19, 2025, Pastor Sun’s wife issued a prayer request letter to fellow believers:
- Pray that the Lord will keep Pastor Sun Chenghao physically and mentally strong, with joy and hope despite persecution;
- Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide this faith persecution to become an opportunity to witness to His glory;
- Pray that the Lord will grant our whole family patience and wisdom, not losing faith during the waiting period;
- Pray that God will soften the authorities’ hearts, allowing Pastor Sun Chenghao to be released soon to reunite with his family; We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
(Reported by special correspondent Ningmeng from ChinaAid)