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Church Elder Released After Five Years' Imprisonment

ChinaAid 26 March 2026

Elder Zhang Chunlei is holding a large bundle of flowers. There is a cross on the wall behind him. — Elder Zhang Chunlei
Photo: ChinaAid

Zhang Chunlei is an elder with the Ren'ai Reformed Church in Guiyang, China. Following his arrest in March 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly "inciting subversion of state power." The Christian leader also received accusations of fraud relating to the receipt of church offerings – a charge commonly used to suppress unregistered congregations. Fellow believers describe the elder as a "gentle, yet firm spiritual leader."

Over the years of his imprisonment, Elder Zhang had been hospitalized due to very painful gallbladder inflammation and was later diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and hypertension. His release from custody finally took place on March 16th upon the completion of his full sentence.

Despite the church leader's release, it is anticipated that government harassment will continue. As a high-profile religious leader, Elder Zhang may face ongoing surveillance, travel restrictions and social isolation. A listing of previously published reports on this believer's case can be accessed here.

Praise God for bringing Elder Zhang safely through these past five years of imprisonment and, as a result, making it possible for him to now be joyfully reunited with his loved ones.
Pray for this spiritual leader’s complete physical healing and renewed inner strength, as well as long-awaited restoration through the loving support of his family and church community.
Ask God to guide Elder Zhang during this next season of his life, fortify the ministry of the Ren'ai Reformed Church, and uphold the faithful witness of unregistered congregations throughout 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.

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Church Elder Released After Five Years' Imprisonment

Elder Zhang Chunlei
Photo: ChinaAid

Zhang Chunlei is an elder with the Ren'ai Reformed Church in Guiyang, China. Following his arrest in March 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly "inciting subversion of state power." The Christian leader also received accusations of fraud relating to the receipt of church offerings – a charge commonly used to suppress unregistered congregations. Fellow believers describe the elder as a "gentle, yet firm spiritual leader."

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