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Yang Rongli
Minister Yang Rongli
Photo: ChinaAid

On August 7th, 2021, police officers arrested Pastor Wang Xiaoguang and his wife Yang Rongli, along with ten other members of the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen, China. For Pastor Wang and Yang, this situation was not unexpected, as the ministering couple had previously served prison sentences of three and seven years respectively after being arrested in 2009. (See this page for more details on these prior arrests.)

The 12 Christians initially received 15-day detentions; however, at the end of that term, they were further detained on suspicion of "fraud" because tithes and offerings had been received by the church. Each of the imprisoned church members were approached by the police, who demanded that they sever ties with the church and accuse Pastor Wang and Yang of fraud.

After encountering increasing pressure from the police, five church members ultimately agreed to comply and were released on bail. The remaining seven believers (including the pastor and his wife) continue to be held in prison after more than 17 months without a trial. The church's lay leadership has especially requested prayer for Pastor Wang and Minister Yang, who are both elderly and not in good health.

Prayerfully uphold Pastor Wang, Minister Yang, and the other five church members who are presently being detained. May God provide each one of them the strength, endurance and health needed to endure this lengthy ordeal. Pray that court officials will proceed with the case, ensuring that true justice is upheld for these innocent believers so they can be rightfully acquitted of any possible charges and subsequently released. Continue to pray for other church members who are faithfully continuing in ministry, despite the absence of pastoral leadership due to Pastor Wang and Minister Yang's detainment.

Current Ministry Projects

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians within China, making it possible for them to have their own print version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, presenting Chinese believers with effective ways in which they can respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Bible (Distribution), Equipping the Saints, Underground Church

Country Information

Designation
Persecuted

Population
1,397,897,720 (July 2021 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.6), Zhuang (1.3), Other (7.1)

Religion (%)
Buddhism (18.3), Christianity (5.2), Islam (1.8), folk religion (21.9), Muslim (2) Hinduism (<0.1), Judaism (<0.1), other (0.7), unaffiliated (51.8)

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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