(Shanxi – July 22, 2025) Yang Rongli, a pastor’s wife, member of the Linfen Golden Lampstand Church, wrote a heartwarming letter to her son, Wang Yunxiang. A key figure in the Golden Lampstand Church and the wife of Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, Yang, along with her husband, remains imprisoned. The church has long endured relentless suppression from authorities in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, China.
In the letter, Yang Rongli calmly informs her son that she has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, she was far from despair, and describes this as “a great crown given to me by God,” even remarking, “the sentence is too light.” She writes that she has “fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith,” and the appeal is not where she places her hope; instead, she entrusts her hope to “God’s greater work.”
Throughout the letter, Yang Yongli’s longing and guilt toward her family are shown in between the lines, but she firmly believes that this is “an arrangement the Lord has given me” and trusts that “the Lord will restore the years the locusts have eaten.” She also mentions the support of her lawyer, who refuted rumors spread by the detention center, and lifts up prayers for her fellow church workers.
The Golden Lampstand Church, a house church that has been in the spotlight, has faced severe persecution in recent years, particularly with the arrests on August 7, 2021. Twelve members of the Golden Lampstand Church, including Yang Rongli and her husband, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, were arrested. Six of those arrested individuals were later released on bail pending trial, but Wang Xiaoguang, Yang Rongli, Li Shuangping, Dong Yongyong, Zhao Guo’ai, and Huo Zhuangping remained detained for over three years.
On April 7 and April 17, 2025, twelve individuals including Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, Li Shuangping, DongYongyong, Zhao Guo’ai, and Huo Zhuangping, stood trial. Subsequently on April 28, 2025, Yang Rongli’s case was heard separately, but the Yaodu District People’s Court did not issue an immediate verdict at that time. In this case, Linfen authorities criminalized the church’s collection of tithes and offerings during worship services by charging them with “fraud.”
Xiangxiang:
My son, peace to you. Lawyer Wen brought news about you and your family, and my heart is deeply comforted and overjoyed.
On June 20, the judge came to the detention center and pronounced that I had been sentenced to 15 years. This is a great crown given to me by God. At that time, my first words to the judge were: The sentence is too light. That day, I was perfectly calm in my thoughts and had my emotions under control, as heavenly peace and joy were with me. Individuals overseeing the detention center were astonished by my reaction to a 15-year sentence.
Judge Xie Binghua held court for only one hour that day before sentencing me to fifteen years. I told Officer Han, who has been accompanying me all this time, that this outcome is acceptable to me. It is a temporary result, and that brings me release and relief, for I have fought the good fight, run the race I was supposed to run, and kept the faith that I believed in. Now I should rest.
There are countless testimonies, countless evidence of God’s love! More than I can count or finish talking about. For example, lawyer Wen suddenly appeared before me today. The night before, I had prayed: Should I call for a lawyer again? Today I received my answer.
An appeal is not where my hope is; waiting for God’s greater work is where I place my hope. That is my reason for appealing, I believe that Yahweh is still my Father God. The power of the resurrected Jesus will be greatly demonstrated in this age.
I will continue to labor alongside Christ, watching for His works. But this has brought suffering to my son, my daughter-in-law, my grandchild, and my husband, whom I could not care for. What I failed to do in life is fail as a wife, fail as a mother, and even more so, unworthy to be a grandmother to my grandson today. But the Lord has arranged that I first “be a person” for Him. I believe the Lord will restore the days the locusts have eaten.
The people at the detention center say my lawyer has abandoned me. However, today, lawyer Wen came again to the detention center, a beautiful testimony to their assumptions that the lawyer does not care for me and has disregarded me. And may lawyer Huang visit once again so that they may understand: I am not the only one who loves God. My greatest joy today is that lawyer Wen has come; only then did I learn the outcome of the first trial for your father and the other ten coworkers. I can no longer do anything more for them, I pray for the Lord to strengthen them! As for the financial losses, I certainly cannot repay the church; may God bless and help the people of our church.
Send my heartfelt regards to your mother-in-law. She has truly borne so much. Each time I see my grandson Ya Lun (Aaron)’s growth, I think of her sacrifices. I can only thank her with words and lift her up in prayer, asking God to grant her health and long life. You must be filial to her, for she is truly the most worthy mother to you and your household.
If I am transferred to prison, it will happen quickly. I do not plan for you to visit me beforehand, as this will save on expenses. Contact your aunt and give her the daily necessities and books that I will use. I want to bring my 250,000-word manuscript with me to prison, please pray for this 250,000-word material.
Let us together give thanks to Him and glorify Him.
Mom
10:30 a.m., July 12, 2025
(China Aid Association)
Relevant Coverage:
Faith Under Attack: Ten Members of Golden Lampstand Church Falsely Accused of “Fraud” and Sentenced to Harsh Prison Terms