(Shanxi — April 20, 2026) A piece of peaceful news has come from the Linfen Covenant Home Church in Shanxi (圣约家园教会). On April 19, 2026, three church coworkers, Pastor Li Jie (李洁), Han Xiaodong (韩晓栋), and Wang Qiang (王强), who had previously been arrested and imprisoned, completed their sentences and were released. After enduring three years of physical and emotional trials, the three have reunited with their wives and families. A day after their release, they attended a gathering at a church in Taiyuan.
It is reported that the release process went relatively smoothly, with no requirement to sign any documents that would violate their faith principles. On-site staff from the judicial bureau were described as friendly and even proactively helped family members in taking commemorative photos.
Although their bodies had been in bondage, fellow Christians and their families stated that their spirits had remained free in their faith. Family members expressed that this reunion was not only a family homecoming, but more significantly, a testimony to the belief that “the truth shall set you free.”
The case dates back to August 2022, when Pastor Li Jie and coworker Han Xiaodong were taken away by police while attending a gathering, followed by the arrest of coworker Wang Qiang.
At the time, the case drew significant international attention, largely due to the legal characterization strategy adopted by the authorities: church leaders were accused of “illegally raising funds in the name of religion” and “suspected fraud.” The prosecution classified the traditional Christian practice of “tithing” as proceeds derived from criminal fraud.
Observers note that this method of reframing religious activities as economic crimes has become an increasingly common approach in recent years to suppress house churches. Through such charges, authorities attempt to avoid direct international criticism regarding religious freedom while cutting off church operations from a financial standpoint.
Since the persecution began, members of the Linfen Covenant Home Church have continued to support one another through hardship. The return of these three core coworkers brings great comfort to church members who have long endured a high-pressure environment. Although many challenges remain ahead, the resilience and forgiveness demonstrated by those who suffered and their families once again prompt deep reflection on the current plight of house churches in China.
