(Linfen, Shanxi province) In a major crackdown by the government in 2021, 12 leaders of Golden Lampstand Church were detained on a so-called “fraud” charge. Several of them are still in custody at the detention center, waiting for their trial on August 21st.
False accusations
The government falsely accused Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, Pastor Yang Rongli, and 10 other Christians of fraud. The leaders from Golden Lampstand (Jindengtai) Church in Linfen, Shanxi province, have been detained for nearly two years. Six of the 12 were released on bail pending trial.
Coerced
Golden Lampstand Church reported that investigators coerced 10 of the detained Christians into dismissing their defense lawyers. At the same time, police forced the 10 to cut off contact with Yang Rongli and Wang Xiaoguang. In exchange, these Christians would have an opportunity to be released on bail. Some firmly refused, some initially agreed but later refused. A few others, however, chose to cooperate with the police due to various pressures. Those released on bail have accepted the condition of being represented by lawyers appointed by the government.
The church posted a bulletin stating that the case will be heard on August 21, 2023, at the Yaodu District People’s Court in Linfen, Shanxi.
Linfen city investigation
In July 2021, the Linfen city government conducted a large-scale investigation into its community. They identified the backbone of the “Wang Yang Church” (Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli) intending to target their church Golden Lampstand. Local government agencies joined forces to crack down. They deployed offers in advance for planned arrests. Preachers associated with this church from other areas were also brought in for investigation and questioning.
In August 2021, the public security bureau held 12 Christians in administrative detention for 15 days. The authorities turned the detention into criminal detention on suspicion of “fraud.”
Fraud charges
This charge has become a common tactic used by the Chinese government in recent years to suppress church leaders. In attempts to refute criticisms of religious persecution towards the government by external actors, prosecutors use legal charges to suppress Christians. In return, the reputation of pastors and house churches is tarnished. Those who have common knowledge of Christianity know that giving to the church is part of worshiping God. But the Chinese government chooses to see church offerings as a way to concoct charges of fraud.
Yang Rongli and Wang Xiaoguang
On July 12th, Golden Lampstand reported that the husband-and-wife Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli miss each other greatly. They are older and relatively weak in physical health, but the couple still have a very loving relationship, praying for each other in prison.
Their history
Originally public officials at Shanxi Normal University, Wang and Yang left their jobs in 1998 to serve the church full-time. Yang Rongli is a fifth-generation believer who came to faith in Christ at an early age. The couple founded Golden Lampstand Church together.
House Churches in China
Golden Lampstand is a large-scale house church. The church has refused to join the government-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). Initially, the CCP said they would give Christians a choice as to whether they would join the TSPM. However, the Chinese government employed tactics of intimidation and deception, successfully persuading many churches to join the organization. The TSPM evolved into a criterion by which the government measures the legality of churches. Every church that joins becomes completely controlled by the CCP. House churches that refuse to join are targets. The degree and intensity of the suppression depend on the will of government leaders and their attitude toward Christianity.
Infamous 2009 crackdown
Golden Lampstand was once a house church with a large number of believers. It faced overwhelming oppression from the local government. On September 13, 2009, at around 3 AM, more than 400 officers raided the place of worship and the church’s Gospel Shoe Factory. They physically assaulted the believers sleeping in the dormitory, resulting in over a hundred injuries. Some of the injured lost consciousness and were rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. The county authorities deployed bulldozers and excavators to demolish dozens of buildings. They looted and destroyed church properties, including televisions, refrigerators, vehicles, and kitchen utensils.
10 million yuan
On September 23, 2009, armed police surrounded Golden Lampstand again. Police abducted Yang Rongli and six other co-workers petitioned in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. Relevant departments offered Yang Rongli 10 million yuan to purchase Golden Lampstand, but she refused. On October 8, police raided Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli’s residence. Three days later, nine church workers, including Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli, were criminally detained.
Sentencing and release
On November 25, 2009, the Yaodu District People’s Court of Linfen City sentenced Pastor Wang Xiaoguang to three years and his wife Yang Rongli to seven years. Others received their sentences as well: Yang Xuan to three and a half years, Cui Jiaxing to five and a half years, and Zhang Huamei to four years. Everyone from Golden Lampstand was charged with “illegal occupation of agricultural land” and “assembling a crowd to disturb traffic order.” Five days after the trial, five other church leaders in Linfen city were sentenced to two years of reeducation through labor. Subsequently, police sealed over thirty worship venues.
Pastor Wang was released in 2012, and Yang was released in 2016.
Demolition
The authorities’ crackdown did not end there. On January 9, 2018, the church building of the Golden Lampstand Church was forcefully demolished by the local government using heavy machinery and dynamite. Three years later, the authorities arrested another 12 individuals.
Tune in for the latest developments
ChinaAid Association will closely monitor the latest developments in the case of Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen, Shanxi. We call on the Linfen government to immediately acquit and release all pastors and believers of the church, and we urge all Christians to pray for the persecuted Christians, including Pastor Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli.
~Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid
