Pastor Geng Zejun released from prison

Chinese authorities release Pastor Geng Zejun

Photo: Pastor Geng Zejun released from prison (ChinaAid source)

 

(Ningxia, China—March 23, 2023) On March 19, 2023, authorities released Church of the Rock pastor Geng Zejun after he served his sentence. His wife and son as well as Christians from other churches brought flowers to the detention center.

 

The morning of Geng Zejun’s release

At around 9 AM, Geng Zejun walked out of the detention center. He hugged and wept with his wife, his son, and the other Christians who greeted him. Pastor Geng was arrested on December 5, 2021, for insisting on gathering for Sunday services and was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “illegal organization of gathering”.

 

Frequent persecution

Pastor Geng Zejun began serving as a full-time minister in 2005. he started preaching at the Church of the Rock (Panshi Church) in Ningxia province in 2011. Police and officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau persecuted the Church of the Rock often. Community members took photos of their gatherings, and police shut down their venue on three separate occasions. Due to a report from a pastor of the local government-sanctioned church, Church of the Rock was verbally banned and dismantled by the police, the State Security Bureau, and the Religious Affairs Bureau.

 

Initial detention

On December 5, 2021, police and government officials attacked the church during Sunday worship, resulting in a 15 detention for Geng Zejun. His wife and five other believers were released on bail after 10 days of administrative detention by the police. Two weeks after the end of his detention, Geng Zejun was summoned again. The police detained him on suspicion of “organizing and financing illegal gatherings”. On January 25, 2022,  the authorities officially arrest Geng and charged him on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings”.

 

Geng’s trial

On July 13, 2022, the People’s Court of Huinong District, Shizuishan City tried the case of Pastor Geng Zejun on the charge of “illegal organization and gathering” via video. Geng was tried in the detention center. He refused to cooperate with the authorities to plead guilty.

 

Geng Zejun released from prison, greeted by other Chinese Christians

Photo: Pastor Geng Zejun took a group photo with the Christians who greeted him (ChinaAid source)

 

No visits, good reports

Since Preacher Geng Zejin was imprisoned for more than a year, his family has neither met with him nor heard from him. The Dawukou Detention Center in Shizuishan City refused any family visits first in the name of pandemic regulations, and later in the name of “laws.” It wasn’t until January 8 that news surfaced about the pastor’s situation. He fell ill with COVID, but Geng Zejun was very popular in the detention center. Everyone respected him, calling him “Pastor Geng.” Fellow inmates asked him for advice on everything.

 

His physical state

Compared with how he looked before he was imprisoned, Geng looked noticeably thinner. He lost more than 22 pounds. According to his wife, Hao Ying, Preacher Geng missed his child very much in prison. When he was released from prison, he hugged his child tightly with tears filling his eyes.

 

Hao Ying thanked everyone for their care and concern. She wrote the following on her social media:

 

“Brother Geng was sent out at around 9:00 today. Church brothers and sisters from many different places came and waited at the gate of the detention center. We embraced each other with tears in our eyes, greeted each other in the Lord, and were deeply inspired by the Lord’s Spirit ~ Thanks be to God for this. His servant has returned in glory! Full of grace, full of blessings.

 Who can stop the glory of God? Today believers and unbelievers together picked up Preacher Geng and brought him home.

Thank you all for your constant care and concern. May God remember you and keep you. Please continue to pray for God’s blessing on each other.”

 

 

~Yu Bing, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid

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Pastor Geng Zejun released from prison

Chinese authorities release Pastor Geng Zejun

Photo: Pastor Geng Zejun released from prison (ChinaAid source)

 

(Ningxia, China—March 23, 2023) On March 19, 2023, authorities released Church of the Rock pastor Geng Zejun after he served his sentence. His wife and son as well as Christians from other churches brought flowers to the detention center.

 

The morning of Geng Zejun’s release

At around 9 AM, Geng Zejun walked out of the detention center. He hugged and wept with his wife, his son, and the other Christians who greeted him. Pastor Geng was arrested on December 5, 2021, for insisting on gathering for Sunday services and was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “illegal organization of gathering”.

 

Frequent persecution

Pastor Geng Zejun began serving as a full-time minister in 2005. he started preaching at the Church of the Rock (Panshi Church) in Ningxia province in 2011. Police and officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau persecuted the Church of the Rock often. Community members took photos of their gatherings, and police shut down their venue on three separate occasions. Due to a report from a pastor of the local government-sanctioned church, Church of the Rock was verbally banned and dismantled by the police, the State Security Bureau, and the Religious Affairs Bureau.

 

Initial detention

On December 5, 2021, police and government officials attacked the church during Sunday worship, resulting in a 15 detention for Geng Zejun. His wife and five other believers were released on bail after 10 days of administrative detention by the police. Two weeks after the end of his detention, Geng Zejun was summoned again. The police detained him on suspicion of “organizing and financing illegal gatherings”. On January 25, 2022,  the authorities officially arrest Geng and charged him on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings”.

 

Geng’s trial

On July 13, 2022, the People’s Court of Huinong District, Shizuishan City tried the case of Pastor Geng Zejun on the charge of “illegal organization and gathering” via video. Geng was tried in the detention center. He refused to cooperate with the authorities to plead guilty.

 

Geng Zejun released from prison, greeted by other Chinese Christians

Photo: Pastor Geng Zejun took a group photo with the Christians who greeted him (ChinaAid source)

 

No visits, good reports

Since Preacher Geng Zejin was imprisoned for more than a year, his family has neither met with him nor heard from him. The Dawukou Detention Center in Shizuishan City refused any family visits first in the name of pandemic regulations, and later in the name of “laws.” It wasn’t until January 8 that news surfaced about the pastor’s situation. He fell ill with COVID, but Geng Zejun was very popular in the detention center. Everyone respected him, calling him “Pastor Geng.” Fellow inmates asked him for advice on everything.

 

His physical state

Compared with how he looked before he was imprisoned, Geng looked noticeably thinner. He lost more than 22 pounds. According to his wife, Hao Ying, Preacher Geng missed his child very much in prison. When he was released from prison, he hugged his child tightly with tears filling his eyes.

 

Hao Ying thanked everyone for their care and concern. She wrote the following on her social media:

 

“Brother Geng was sent out at around 9:00 today. Church brothers and sisters from many different places came and waited at the gate of the detention center. We embraced each other with tears in our eyes, greeted each other in the Lord, and were deeply inspired by the Lord’s Spirit ~ Thanks be to God for this. His servant has returned in glory! Full of grace, full of blessings.

 Who can stop the glory of God? Today believers and unbelievers together picked up Preacher Geng and brought him home.

Thank you all for your constant care and concern. May God remember you and keep you. Please continue to pray for God’s blessing on each other.”

 

 

~Yu Bing, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

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