Update: House church leader released

25 November 2009

Wusiman Yiming
Photo from ChinaAid

Uyghur Chinese house church leader Wusiman Yiming was released on November 18 from a labour camp in Xinjiang after serving two years of criminal detention for "divulging state secrets" (click here for more information). Authorities had called for a 10-15 year prison sentence for Yiming but significantly reduced the term following international attention. A source who spoke with Yiming stated that he "looks fragile but has a very strong spirit." Yiming, who has been reunited with his wife and two young daughters, expressed his heartfelt thanks to those who have provided care and help to his family members during his imprisonment. (Sources: ChinaAid, Compass Direct)

Praise Jesus for Wusiman Yiming's release! Ask God to bless him as he reconnects with his loved ones. Pray too for the release of Alimujiang Yimiti, another Uyghur Christian who was accused in the same case as Yiming and remains in prison.

For more information on the persecution of Chinese Christians, go to the China Country Report.

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.