Photo: ChinaAid
In March 2024, leaders of a house church fellowship in Suizhou, a city located in central China's Hubei Province, were arrested as part of a major crackdown on itinerant ministry workers. In an apparent attempt to minimize public and international attention, authorities conducted the trials in small numbers, often with only one or two defendants at a time.
According to a recently released report, a total of 31 believers have now been sentenced to imprisonment, with terms ranging from 28 to 48 months. Among them is 77-year-old Pastor Yang Zhijin, who was sentenced on May 21st to 38 months in prison for allegedly "using a cult organization to undermine the implementation of the law."
The convicted believers are itinerant workers who travelled to minister among ethnic minority groups in western China. To review other reports about the persecution of our Christian family in this Communist nation, visit our country profile.
- Prayerfully uphold these recently sentenced believers, asking the Lord to provide each one of them – as well as their concerned families – divine strength, protection and sustaining grace.
- As they begin serving their prison sentences, in hopes the convictions will be rightfully overturned, may these faithful servants find meaningful opportunities to share the message of God's love and eternal salvation with others around them.
- Pray that the Gospel message would continue spreading exponentially throughout China – bringing hope, encouragement and new life to many more spiritually searching hearts.
Population
