(Shanxi – September 3, 2025) Recently, a lawyer met with preacher Li Shuangping of Linfen Golden Lampstand Church, who was sentenced by local judicial authorities to nine years and two months in prison on charges of “fraud.” Learning that Li Shuangping has written several poems while in prison, highlighting his willingness to suffer for his faith and his submission and trust in the way of the cross.
Poetry Behind Bars: A Voice of Faith Amid Persecution
In his poem Heaven of Suffering, Li Shuangping wrote:
“Now imprisoned, bound in chains, yet I press on without hesitation, following closely.
The bitter road of the cross drips with abundance,
the wild and lonely path overflows with living water.”
Early Church Involvement and Background
Li Shuangping, currently 52, came to faith in 1993 and joined the house church founded by Pastor Wang Xiaoguang and his wife, Yang Rongli, in 2001. He soon became an important coworker in the church. Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli were expelled from the state-sanctioned “Three-Self” Church in 1992 for their adherence to biblical teaching, after which they established their own house church. Due to the church’s rapid growth and refusal to join the “Three-Self” Church, it came under government scrutiny and suppression.
Previous Sentences and Labor Re-education
At the end of November 2009, Yang Rongli was charged with “illegal occupation of agricultural land” and “gathering a crowd to disturb traffic order” and sentenced by Yaodu District People’s Court in Linfen to seven years in prison. Wang Xiaoguang was sentenced to three years for “illegal occupation of agricultural land.” Li Shuangping was sentenced to two years of re-education through labor by the Linfen Re-education Through Labor Committee charged with “gathering a crowd to disturb traffic order.”
While Yang Rongli was in prison and unable to shepherd the church, Li Shuangping was released from re-education through labor on July 31, 2011, and became a leader of the church. After Pastor Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli were released, Li Shuangping and them led the church together.
On August 6, 2021, Li Shuangping was again summoned by the Economic and Technological Development Zone Branch of Linfen Public Security Bureau. On August 7, 2021, the Economic and Technological Development Zone Branch of Linfen Public Security Bureau administratively detained him for 15 days and fined him 500 RMB on charges of “illegally carrying out activities in the guise of a social organization.” On August 22, 2021, Li Shuangping was criminally detained for “fraud.” On September 27, the Yaodu District People’s Procuratorate of Linfen City approved his arrest, and on the following day, his arrest was executed.
Charges and Detention of Li’s Wife, Yang Hongzhen
Li’s wife, Yang Hongzhen, now 50, was also sentenced to two years of re-education through labor at the end of November 2009 for “gathering a crowd to disturb traffic order.” On September 30, 2021, she was summoned by Yaodu District Public Security Bureau, Linfen City. On October 1, she was criminally detained on suspicion of “fraud” by the same bureau. On November 4, the Yaodu District People’s Procuratorate approved her arrest, which was carried out the following day. On November 25 of the same year, she was released under guarantee pending trial, and on April 11, 2022, was again placed under guarantee pending trial by the court.
Denied Request to Attend His Mother’s Funeral
During Li Shuangping’s detention, his 89-year-old mother passed away in mid-January of this year. Li Shuangping was sorrowful for being unable to bid her farewell. Although his lawyer requested a guarantee pending trial to allow him to attend her funeral on January 20, the request was denied.
Sentencing of Li Shuangping and Yang Hongzhen
After nearly four years, the case finally went to trial. Li Shuangping was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison and fined 100,000 RMB, while his wife Yang Hongzhen was sentenced to two years and nine months with a three-year suspended sentence and fined 30,000 RMB.
This marks the second time this couple, Li Shuangping and Yang Hongzhen, have been imprisoned together for their faith. This time Li received a particularly heavy sentence of nine years and two months. Yet according to his lawyer, Li remains in good spirits, harbors no resentment over the injustices he suffered, and has instead written many poems expressing his steadfast faith, willing to “wait in silence…without complaint or regret.”
Reported by Special Correspondent Ning Meng for ChinaAid
