(Henan — December 30, 2025) After years of hardship, a heartening piece of news has arrived in the depths of winter. Pastor Yang Jianxin (杨建新) of Sanmenxia City, Henan, has been granted parole and has returned home early, truly a reunion after the fog has lifted.
It is reported that Pastor Yang Jianxin of the Reformed House Church in Lingbao, Henan, who was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for adhering to his faith convictions, has now been approved for parole due to health reasons. At present, Pastor Yang has returned home and is beginning a long period of physical rehabilitation, accompanied by his family and friends.
As the leader of a Reformed house church in Lingbao City, Pastor Yang Jianxin and the congregation consistently insisted on maintaining the independence of their faith outside the officially recognized “Three-Self” system. However, under increasingly stringent regulations on religious affairs, this gradually evolved into a prolonged struggle.
In early 2021, Yang Jianxin was placed under surveillance by the department that manages religious affairs for contacting a printing factory to purchase bible-related books for the church’s regular use. The Lingbao city police subsequently took him away, accusing him of being the “responsible commissioning party” for the printing of books. On February 7 of the same year, he was formally arrested on charges of “illegal business operations.” Although in court his actions were defended as meeting the normal religious needs of believers, in late summer 2021, the Lingbao City Court of First Instance still handed down a heavy sentence of five years and six months in prison for “illegal business operations.” An appeal was subsequently filed, but the Sanmenxia Intermediate People’s Court ultimately upheld the original verdict.
Since his imprisonment, Yang Jianxin’s situation has continued to draw public attention. His original sentence was set to run until July 2026, with about half a year remaining.
According to informed sources, the primary reason for granting parole this time was the deterioration of Yang Jianxin’s health while in prison. At the intersection of legal procedure and humanitarian considerations, he was able to leave the high walls of Lingbao Prison, Henan (Lingbao City, Sanmenxia) ahead of schedule.
“He has finally come home. Although his body is very weak and he needs time to recover, being able to breathe the air of freedom is the greatest comfort to his family.”
Although Yang Jianxin has returned home, the five years he endured and the difficult circumstances faced by the house church behind it remain a heavy subject.
At present, Pastor Yang is recuperating at home. We will continue to follow his physical recovery and subsequent situation.
Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid