(Anhui – August 12, 2025) On June 29, 2025, Elder Ma Tao of Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui, was detained on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings.” On the 6th, his wife, Sister Li Mei, issued a prayer letter recalling the many ways her husband served in their family, ministry, and daily life, and earnestly asked brothers and sisters to pray for their whole family.
A Husband’s Quiet, Faithful Love Remembered
In her letter, Sister Li Mei recalled that what moved people most about Elder Ma Tao was his sincere smile. Even at a first meeting, one could sense his kindness, warmth, and innocence from his smile.
During the more than one month of Elder Ma Tao’s detention, Sister Li Mei came to a more profound realization of her husband’s quiet, nurturing love. She noticed that many everyday chores at home, such as charging the electric scooter or preparing sweet grapes in summer, had been things her husband quietly took care of.
A Loving Father, Son, and Son-in-Law
As the father of four children, Elder Ma Tao played many roles. He cared attentively for the children’s daily lives, taught them patiently, and was also their best playmate. He would interact with them without any generational gap, but like “Bao Zheng,” he would set rules for them and never show favoritism.
In his family, Elder Ma Tao was a filial son; his respect and care for his parents would overflow in every action. He is extremely close with his father, and whenever he returned to his hometown, the two would talk late into the night. He was especially tender toward his mother, preferring to shoulder more household duties himself rather than let her help look after the children, so as not to tire her.
He showed the same respect and care for his parents-in-law, regarding them as his own family. This genuine affection deeply touched Li Mei and inspired her to love her own parents-in-law even more.
Ordinary Man, Faithful Servant
In her letter, Sister Li Mei described Elder Ma Tao as warmhearted, always ready to help those in need around him, once even taking time out to retrieve a mobile phone that a passerby had dropped into a crack amongst some stones.
Although Elder Ma Tao was not gifted in speech and would sometimes mix up “h” and “f” when speaking, with a firm calling in his heart, he would practice every day through early morning readings, working hard to express clearly. With the zeal and loyalty of his life, he has served faithfully and without ceasing to this day.
Sister Li Mei concluded, “He is just one among millions of ordinary people, yet by God’s grace, he shines a small light that illuminates those around him. In my heart, he is a good servant, a good citizen, a good husband, a good son, and a good father.”
Violent Raid and Ongoing Detention
However, such a good husband and good father was taken away in a neighborhood by several plainclothes officers who showed no identification. Sister Li Mei said that although she longs for her husband to be released on bail and return to the family soon, she is more willing to submit to God’s will.
She ended by quoting Matthew 13:43: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father,” and asked everyone to uphold their family in prayer.
Elder Ma Tao and Pastor Chang Shun are currently held in the Fuyang City Detention Center. The church adheres to its house church position, refusing to join the state-sanctioned Three-Self Movement, and has repeatedly faced government suppression. On June 29, the Sunday service of Fuyang Maizhong Reformed Church was disrupted. Law enforcement acted violently, pried open locks, deleted surveillance footage, and threatened Christians. Nineteen people from the church were taken away; Pastor Chang Shun and Elder Ma Tao were criminally detained, and another pastor, Zhang Sen, was criminally detained on July 9.
(China Aid Association)
