(Hefei, Anhui – July 29, 2025) Ganquan Church is a house church in Hefei, Anhui. It began as a small Bible study group of several Christians and, after twenty years, has grown into a relatively influential church in the area. In mid-November 2023, church members discovered hidden pinhole cameras secretly installed in the church. On November 30, 2023, Hefei police suddenly detained 16 people, including Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu, on charges of “fraud” and placed them under criminal detention. Pastor Zhou and Elder Ding remain in custody to this day, while the others were later released on bail pending trial. The trial of Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu took place from July 16 to 18 and continued from July 21 to 23.
According to the Kingdom Prayer Network, as the trial nears its conclusion, the atmosphere in the hearing on July 23, 2025, at the Second Courtroom of Shushan District Court in Hefei was no longer as tense as before. Confronted with the prosecutor’s accusations, Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu often smiled, saying in court (on the 23rd) that they are no longer afraid because they trust in God’s justice. Below is the record of this hearing.
Questioning the Legitimacy of Evidence and Calling for Procedural Justice
At the start of the hearing, Elder Ding Zhongfu raised serious concerns over the legality of the evidence in the case. He bluntly pointed out that his first statement should be excluded as illegally obtained evidence and demanded that synchronized audio and video recordings be retrieved. He stressed: “Criminal investigators cannot just say there is no video and so be it. The absence of it is illegal.” He further asserted that judicial organs are obligated to provide complete interrogation recordings to prove procedural legitimacy.
Elder Ding noted that the church had tried repeatedly to register for formal approval but was consistently rejected. He stated, “Our church tried every way possible to register, hoping to be approved, but we were just not able to register. Now they turn around and say we broke the law for not registering.” This reversal of logic, he argued, exposes how authorities manufacture “illegality.”
He pointed out that state security officers had threatened the defendants at the detention center, even coercing them to dismiss their lawyers, are these actions “not illegal?” He questioned, “Was it not illegal for Wang Jun to turn a religious case into a criminal case?”
Regarding international media coverage, Elder Ding retorted, “Attorney Ou said the foreign press reported this case. Was that something I did? How could I contact them while in detention? Foreign media paid attention because they believed the case itself was unlawful. If Wang Jun had said this was just a religious matter and told us to go home, would there be foreign media coverage?”
In response to the prosecution’s action of “repeated submission of supplementary evidence during trial, whatever we had opinions on, they added on specific evidence,” Elder Ding asked, “The prosecutor even says this is normal and legal. However, when we request witnesses to testify, why is that not allowed? Isn’t that even more normal?”
Summarizing these violations, he concluded,
“Perhaps someday we may fall in defeat with this case, but I believe God will judge this world with justice. God will judge all nations with righteousness!”
Attorney Zhao Qingshan, with his professional interpretation of legal statutes, strongly rebutted the prosecutor’s previous argument. He emphasized that the Criminal Procedure Law clearly requires that supplemental investigations during trial must recommend that the court postpone hearings, and extensions cannot exceed two instances. However, in this case, evidence was added at will, violating legal time limits of the trial and, even more so, potentially extending the defendants’ detention indefinitely, infringing on their right to freedom.
On the other hand, attorney Zhang Kai challenged the legality and probative value of the witness testimony, noting that suspects are not witnesses and their interrogation transcripts cannot be treated as testimony; their statements require stricter examination. Regarding the contents reflected from the written records, attorney Zhang Kai pointed out, “Why is doing so many good deeds turned into a crime?” He demanded that the prosecutors elaborate on the supposed incriminating evidence since the current materials fail to establish criminal conduct.
A Soul That Is No Longer Bound by Fear
In pastor Zhou Songlin’s speech in court, he recounted multiple instances when Wang Jun visited him at the detention center, urging him to “plead guilty and accept punishment.” Pastor Zhou Songlin calmly but firmly stated, “Wang Jun came to see me many times in the detention center, saying that my attitude was the most important thing, telling me to plead guilty and accept punishment. I told him my conscience would not allow it. He also pressured me to dismiss my lawyer, and under pressure, I dismissed Attorney Zhang Kai once. Later, I discovered that another suspect who had pleaded guilty and accepted punishment had ended up fine. This also left me feeling perplexed. Pleading guilty and accepting punishment meant no repercussions, not doing so meant being imprisoned for over two years.”
Pastor Zhou Songlin shared his transformation from fear to peace:
“Every past church gathering, I never knew if we’d make it to the end. Every gathering was filled with fear. Ironically, once I was taken into the detention center, I felt calm. Talking about this brings me to tears, for over ten years, I never knew if we would make it till the end of our gathering.”
He continued,
“I have been a person of faith on this land for decades, and I always felt that being a Christian and a minister means being below others. If one day, Christians could gather as normally as Party members hold meetings, I think this country would be much better.”
His words reflect the struggle under past oppression, but even more so, a hope for a more just and open society. Pastor Zhou Songlin’s constant smile in court was the best testimony that fear no longer ruled his heart.
Hope for Love and Justice Beyond the Law
Attorney Li Guisheng took a broader approach, explaining the voluntary nature of offerings and the essence of religious freedom. He stated clearly, “All these people agreed that offerings were voluntary,” which is the opposite of the nature of fraud. He emphasized, “No one suffered any financial loss. All this evidence clearly explains the church’s operations; everyone is able to see clearly and knows how the money was used. None of it was for illegal purposes, all are clear of that.”
At the trial’s closing, Elder Ding Zhongfu expressed heartfelt gratitude for the police officer who showed concern for his daily needs that morning, viewing it as “a sign of love.” He noted that if human interactions were solely bound by law, human warmth would be lost. Elder Ding said movingly,
“Why do we want the tribunal to continue this trial? Perhaps it’s a sign of our love for this land and the people of this country. Even though I am imprisoned and suffering, I hope through this trial, during this difficult time, I can make a small contribution to this country and its people.”
He further expressed that faith transcends personal grievance:
“I do not resent, nor dare to resent, those who persecute us. I dare not resent because I fear my God. My God wants us to forgive, to have justice, mercy, and goodness.”
Epilogue: The Radiance of Faith and Witness of Love
He urged the prosecutors to clarify the purpose of their evidence and expressed his understanding toward them: “I know the tribunal and prosecutors are under pressure, and in some ways, your pressure is no less than mine. But because you represent the law, you have a duty to improve the law.”
Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu’s smiles in court were the profound response to persecution. This strength, rising from the depths of their souls, transcends the courtroom and physical suffering, revealing the glory of the cross. As it is written:
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NIV)
(Reprinted by ChinaAid from Kingdom Prayer Network, with partial edits for length)
