Trial for an Alleged Illegal Business

Ten Christians from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China are presently on trial due to accusations of running an illegal business operation. The believers had endeavoured to make Bibles more readily available to individuals who longed to receive their own copy. As a result, the distributors purchased Bibles from the government-sanctioned Three-Self Church at near retail price and then resold them to fellow Christians at a price much lower than they had paid, thus losing a significant amount of money.

The believers were arrested on April 14th, 2021, on charges that their business was unsanctioned. The prosecutor claims that the sales of the Bibles over the years have amounted to over 40 million yuan (over 7.6 million Canadian dollars). Although the case was first heard in January 2022, it was repeatedly delayed, in part due to COVID restrictions. The trial finally began on November 20th, 2023.

One of the believers currently on trial is 68-year-old Wang Honglan. An evangelist for more than 40 years, Wang has already spent five years in prison and one year of "re-education through labour" due to her faithful service for Christ. Along with her part in providing Bibles to believers, she has helped many children with their education. Many of the parents of those children were present at the trial to offer their support for Wang. When asked by her lawyer about her faith, the Christian woman recited from the Apostles' Creed, despite efforts by the court to stop her. For Wang, the point of enduring suffering is to bear witness to Christ's sacrificial love.

During the trial, the court showed clear bias towards the prosecution. At one point, the judge admonished a defence attorney, Song Hongtao, for having "too much sympathy" for the defendants. Song immediately challenged the judge, asking why defence attorneys should not have sympathy for those they are defending. The trial concluded on November 24th and, at last report, a verdict is pending. For other reports on the suffering experienced by Chinese Christians, go to our country report.

Pray for a favourable verdict on behalf of Wang and the other nine believers facing the mentioned false charges. Despite the opposition against these followers of Jesus, may the fruits of their many years of faithful labour continue to multiply, leading multitudes more to faith in Christ. Continue to remember our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ who are presently imprisoned for their faith, asking our Heavenly Father to provide for all of their emotional, spiritual and physical needs.