Secret trial held for Elder Zhang Chunlei

Photo: Guiyang Municipal People’s Intermediate Court (ChinaAid source)

(Guiyang, China) On November 29, Guiyang Municipal People’s Intermediate Court secretly held the trial of Ren’ai Reformed Elder Zhang Chunlei. Authorities suspected him of fraud and inciting subversion of state power. Yang Aiqing, his wife, was prohibited from attending the trial even though she submitted the application for attending in advance. The trial lasted over 6 hours, from 9:30 AM-4:00 PM. The entrance of the court was so heavily guarded that even security staff said that they never witnessed the massive show of force. Some congregants of Ren’ai Reformed were followed, and others waited at the entrance but were removed by subdistrict personnel.  

Photo: Entrance to the court was heavily guarded (ChinaAid source)

 

A few house churches have not complied with the Religious Affairs Regulation since it took effect in early 2018, because multiple articles in the regulations harm the Christian faith. Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church launched a campaign in 2018 with pastors of house churches. They jointly signed Wang’s Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith in the hope to protect the pure faith. 458 pastors and leaders signed the document, and Elder Zhang Chunlei was one of the first. Over half of pastors who signed the document were asked to speak to national security officers, and many house churches were searched, cracked down or shut down one after another.  

 

On December 9, 2018, the massive arrest of Early Rain Covenant Church people happened, and over 100 people including Pastor Wang Yi, elders, deacons, and coworkers were arrested. Elder Zhang Chunlei of Ren’ai Reformed Church, Pastor Yang Hua of Guiyang Living Stone Church, and Pastor Jin Tianming of Beijing Shouwang Church made an announcement together, saying that they are willing to be given the same charge as Pastor Wang Yi’s. Ren’ai Reformed was raided twice and shut down. During the second raid on March 16, 2021, many Christians were arrested, and their homes were searched. Elder Zhang Chunlei came to the police station that same evening for inquiry, but authorities detained him immediately. They officially arrested Elder Zhang on suspicion of fraud on May 1. 

Photo: Believers wait outside the court before being escorted away (ChinaAid source)

Elder Zhang Chunlei has been detained for 19 months since his arrest. Reports indicate he looks healthy despite his graying hair and beard. Elder Zhang Chunlei’s representative attorney made a strong argument to plead not guilty, and Elder Zhang Chunlei himself made a statement in the courtroom. He recounted his life experience of first working in politics, then in business, and finally being called to full-time ministry. He thinks what he does is for the sake of the gospel, and he neither incited subversion of state power nor defrauded anyone. The procurator didn’t speak much after reading the indictment, and the verdict was not made in the courtroom.  

 

The normal practice is that the judge allows the family to see the defendant after a trial, but the court wasn’t sympathetic to Zhang Chunlei and didn’t allow his wife to see him after the trial.  

 

Below is a poem Elder Chunlei penned in prison recently:  

  

Treading on Grass, Life Journey 

  

I worked for government starting 1985, then started my business in 1993 

Politicians and businessmen were my idols before 

I was joyfully called to follow the Lord in 2008 

I used to be blind but suddenly saw God’s glory 

In a prison cell full time 

My faith is “not ashamed of the gospel” 

Olives and grapes are pressed to become oil and wine 

Carry the cross and imitate the Lord in Qiantu 

 

~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Contributing Reporter 

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Secret trial held for Elder Zhang Chunlei

Photo: Guiyang Municipal People’s Intermediate Court (ChinaAid source)

(Guiyang, China) On November 29, Guiyang Municipal People’s Intermediate Court secretly held the trial of Ren’ai Reformed Elder Zhang Chunlei. Authorities suspected him of fraud and inciting subversion of state power. Yang Aiqing, his wife, was prohibited from attending the trial even though she submitted the application for attending in advance. The trial lasted over 6 hours, from 9:30 AM-4:00 PM. The entrance of the court was so heavily guarded that even security staff said that they never witnessed the massive show of force. Some congregants of Ren’ai Reformed were followed, and others waited at the entrance but were removed by subdistrict personnel.  

Photo: Entrance to the court was heavily guarded (ChinaAid source)

 

A few house churches have not complied with the Religious Affairs Regulation since it took effect in early 2018, because multiple articles in the regulations harm the Christian faith. Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church launched a campaign in 2018 with pastors of house churches. They jointly signed Wang’s Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith in the hope to protect the pure faith. 458 pastors and leaders signed the document, and Elder Zhang Chunlei was one of the first. Over half of pastors who signed the document were asked to speak to national security officers, and many house churches were searched, cracked down or shut down one after another.  

 

On December 9, 2018, the massive arrest of Early Rain Covenant Church people happened, and over 100 people including Pastor Wang Yi, elders, deacons, and coworkers were arrested. Elder Zhang Chunlei of Ren’ai Reformed Church, Pastor Yang Hua of Guiyang Living Stone Church, and Pastor Jin Tianming of Beijing Shouwang Church made an announcement together, saying that they are willing to be given the same charge as Pastor Wang Yi’s. Ren’ai Reformed was raided twice and shut down. During the second raid on March 16, 2021, many Christians were arrested, and their homes were searched. Elder Zhang Chunlei came to the police station that same evening for inquiry, but authorities detained him immediately. They officially arrested Elder Zhang on suspicion of fraud on May 1. 

Photo: Believers wait outside the court before being escorted away (ChinaAid source)

Elder Zhang Chunlei has been detained for 19 months since his arrest. Reports indicate he looks healthy despite his graying hair and beard. Elder Zhang Chunlei’s representative attorney made a strong argument to plead not guilty, and Elder Zhang Chunlei himself made a statement in the courtroom. He recounted his life experience of first working in politics, then in business, and finally being called to full-time ministry. He thinks what he does is for the sake of the gospel, and he neither incited subversion of state power nor defrauded anyone. The procurator didn’t speak much after reading the indictment, and the verdict was not made in the courtroom.  

 

The normal practice is that the judge allows the family to see the defendant after a trial, but the court wasn’t sympathetic to Zhang Chunlei and didn’t allow his wife to see him after the trial.  

 

Below is a poem Elder Chunlei penned in prison recently:  

  

Treading on Grass, Life Journey 

  

I worked for government starting 1985, then started my business in 1993 

Politicians and businessmen were my idols before 

I was joyfully called to follow the Lord in 2008 

I used to be blind but suddenly saw God’s glory 

In a prison cell full time 

My faith is “not ashamed of the gospel” 

Olives and grapes are pressed to become oil and wine 

Carry the cross and imitate the Lord in Qiantu 

 

~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Contributing Reporter 

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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