House Church Leaders' Cases Still Pending

03 March 2004

Xu Yonghai and Liu Fenggang

The Voice of the Martyrs (Canada) has learned that, contrary to recent reports, house church leaders Liu Fenggang and Xu Yonghai have not been sentenced to life in prison. Rather their cases are still pending in the court. Liu and Xu have been charged with "providing national intelligence to overseas organizations."

Liu Fenggang was arrested in Hangzhou on October 13, and his home was searched on October 15, leading to the confiscation of two computers, his address book, cameras, documents and other items. Based on some of the material found in the search, Xu Yonghai and his wife were arrested on the night of November 9, and although Li Shanna was released six hours later, her husband has remained in detention ever since.

Pray for the lawyers of these two men as they prepare their defense. Pray for their families during this time of uncertainty. Pray that God would strengthen Liu and Xu and reveal His presence to them.

For more information on persecution in China, click here.

China

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.