(Bengbu, Anhui Province, China – January 14, 2025) On January 8, 2025, the first trial concluded for four Christians from Bengbu Living Stone Reformed Church – Wan Changchun, Xue Shaoqiang, Cao Binting, and Wan Chunqin – who were charged with “fraud” due to their faith.
Three Released, one in custody
The four imprisoned Brothers and Sisters, along with their lawyers, gave powerful testimonies in court. Sister Ke Susu, whom the prosecutors labeled as a “victim,” again stated that she had not been defrauded. The lawyers made a strong case for innocence, citing Biblical scriptures, legal policies, historical references, and factual evidence. The four brothers and sisters’ final statements in defense of their faith were deeply moving. After the trial, except for Brother Wan Changchun, the other three – Wan Chunqin, Xue Shaoqiang, and Cao Binting – were released on bail, ending their 20-month imprisonment.
The charge on “illegal business operations” and “fraud”
Bengbu Living Stone Reformed Church is a house church not registered with the Religious Affairs Bureau. The church’s Pastors and Elders were elected with the congregation’s full consent. All income comes from voluntary offerings by believers according to Biblical teachings, and all expenditures are known, agreed upon, and regularly disclosed to church members with full transparency.
On April 11, 2023, Pastor Wan Changchun was arrested by Bengbu police while serving in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, on suspicion of “illegal business operations.” The church’s Elder Xue Shaoqiang, Wan Changchun’s sister Wan Chunqin, and church co-worker Cao Binting were also subsequently detained on the same charge. The charge were later changed to “fraud” when the case was transferred to the Yuhui District People’s Procuratorate.
The Court’s power abuse throughout the trials
The case officially went to trial in late November 2024. The Bengbu Living Stone Reformed Church hired a team of 10 lawyers. The lawyers noted that the Yuhui District Court appeared to abuse public power, engage in administrative inaction, fabricate false evidence, prevent immediate family members from attending the trial, and mistreat the four Christians.
During the trial, lawyers also found numerous issues and suspected fabrications in the prosecution’s indictment. In court, Ke Susu not only denied being a victim but also hired a lawyer at her own expense to defend the “perpetrators,” emotionally expressing how she had received care and help from those the prosecutors labeled as “fraudsters.”
The defense lawyers noted that some strange details in the case seemed surreal. According to trial attendees, Wan Changchun, Xue Shaoqiang, Cao Binting, and Wan Chunqin appeared very weak, with concerning health conditions. Wan Changchun even fainted in court.
Reactions during the trials
Prosecutors and defense lawyers engaged in heated debates, with the judge repeatedly using the gavel.
The defendants expressed outrage, stating,
“We’re not deaf! We can’t stand your blatant lies.”
Sister Wan Chunqin said,
“I’ve been controlling my emotions. If it weren’t for God’s love, I wouldn’t cooperate with you at all. Though I’m small in stature, I would resist you.”
Lawyer Huang Deqi said,
“I wanted to cooperate, but you’re openly lying, making cooperation impossible. I request the prosecutor’s recusal.”
Elder Xue Shaoqiang preached the gospel to the judge:
“God is the embodiment of love, created the world with love, and maintains it with love. Out of love, He personally came to the world and died on the cross for us, becoming the sacrificial lamb. My Lord on the cross—” (At this point, Elder Xue became too emotional to continue, choking back tears).
Through the lawyers’ efforts, Wan Chunqin, Xue Shaoqiang, and Cao Binting were finally released on bail and returned home, while only Wan Changchun remains in prison.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Ningmeng for ChinaAid)