Pastor Endures Poor Treatment in Detention

China Aid 13 October 2016

Yang Hua preaching in an undated photo.
Photo: ChinaAid

Lawyers representing incarcerated church pastor Yang Hua discovered during a recent visit with their client that he has been suffering from serious health conditions. Yang, who has been in police custody since December 9th of last year for "divulging state secrets" and other falsified charges, is experiencing pain due to a liver condition and additional major health concerns.

Previously, China Aid had received a report from Yang's lawyers, Chen Jiangang and Zhao Yonglin, confirming his poor treatment at the hands of government officials. According to an interview Chen and Zhao conducted with Yang, prosecutors visited him twice, applied pressure to his feet, and repeatedly threatened to kill him and harm his family members if he failed to confess his supposed crimes. After obtaining this information, the lawyers sued the prosecution team, accusing them of "using torture to extort a confession," and requested that the prosecution receive legal repercussions.

Yang's lawyers originally understood that his trial would take place soon after the admittance of evidence to the courts. However, as of yet, no trial date has been announced. More information on the challenges facing Christians in China is available here.

Please pray that Yang will be renewed in spirit, soul, mind and body. May he sense the nearness of our Almighty God's reassuring presence, filling him with greater confidence and faith during this time of trial. Also intercede for Yang's lawyers as they advocate what we hope will be a fair trial and Yang's release so he can receive greatly needed medical attention. May God's peace, strength, wisdom and favour be upon Yang, his loved ones, as well as those representing him, in Jesus' all-powerful name.

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.