Three Christian Leaders Imprisoned

11 August 2004

Last week, readers of the Persecution and Prayer Alert were asked to pray for Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi, as they were to appear before the Intermediate People's Court of Hangzhou on August 6 (click here for more details). The three were all convicted of "illegally soliciting, providing national intelligence to overseas organizations." Liu has been sentenced to three years, Xu to two years and Zhang to one year.

According to prosecutors, the three men leaked information about a court case from 2000 to a Christian magazine and overseas organizations. The case involved the appeal of the sentence of Li Boazhi to eighteen months of "re-education through labour" for being a member of an "evil cult." Liu was also found guilty of writing reports on the destruction of house church buildings in several areas of Zhejiang province in 2003. The three intend to appeal their sentence. At last report, they all appeared to be in good health.

Pray that God will influence the government of China to change their policies of oppression and that the appeal process will be successful. Pray for these three men, as they face their prison sentences, that they will stand firm, whether delivered or not.

For more information on persecution 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.