Update: Human rights lawyer missing again

13 May 2010

Gao last seen with his family in January 2009
Photo from ChinaAid

Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights lawyer released by Chinese officials on April 6 (click here for more information), has again gone missing. Gao -- initially seized from his home in Shaanxi province on February 4, 2009 and held incommunicado by security officials for 13 months -- was permitted to phone family members and colleagues in late March. Officials finally returned him to his Beijing apartment in April. Gao reportedly intended to travel to Urumqi within days of his release to visit his in-laws, and witnesses saw him leaving his apartment and getting into a vehicle parked outside his building sometime between April 9 and 12. Gao's father-in-law reportedly confirmed that Gao arrived at his home with an escort of four police officers but spent just one night there before police took him away again. Gao phoned his father-in-law shortly before he was due to board a flight back to Beijing on April 20. He promised to call again after returning home but failed to do so.

Bob Fu, President of VOM partner ChinaAid, has stated that Gao is "definitely in the hands of Chinese security forces." He believes that international pressure forced authorities to allow Gao a brief re-appearance to prove that he was alive before officials seized him again to prevent information leaking out about his experiences over the past year. (Source: Compass Direct)

Thank the Lord that He knows the whereabouts and conditions of Gao and that He is caring for him. If Gao is detained, pray that authorities will soon release him. Pray for Gao's wife and children during these uncertain times.

Click here to find out more about persecution in China.

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.