Verdict Against Christian Elders

ChinaAid 09 May 2024

Elder Hao Ming is sitting with his wife at a shoreline. — Elder Hao Ming with his wife.
Photo: ChinaAid

In November 2021, Wu Jiannan and Hao Ming were arrested on suspicion of fraud. On March 15th, 2023, after spending more than two years in detention, the two Christian elders were released on bail pending their trials.

On April 9th of this year, the trials for both of these Christian workers finally took place. Considered guilty by the Jingyang District People's Court, they were each sentenced to three years in prison with a five-year suspended sentence. Each of these accused men were also fined 30,000 yuan (approximately $5,700 CAD). Additionally, Elder Wu was ordered to return all the funds received from the church, which amounted to approximately $20,000.

Elder Hao Ming, who has rejected all the accusations, never pleaded guilty nor accepted the punishment. This Christian elder says that he does not plan to appeal the verdict; rather, he is relying on God's righteousness for vindication. To learn more about the cases against these two church leaders, along with reports addressing the many challenges encountered by our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in China, go to our country report.

Prayerfully ask God to minister great peace and comfort to both of these accused men and their individual families. May He also continue to guide, strengthen and encourage all other followers of Jesus throughout China who are likewise facing governmental opposition because of their faith and Christian activities. May the Lord work mightily in the lives of the country's authorities – softening their hearts towards the things of God – so that His people will be permitted to worship openly and freely without any threat of arrest or harassment.

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.

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