Joyous Celebration Over Church Elder's Release!

ChinaAid, UCA News 06 April 2023

Geng Zejun being embraced — Pastor Geng Zejun
Photo: ChinaAid

On March 19th, authorities released Pastor Geng Zejun after he served 15 months in prison. His wife and son, along with several others – both Christians and non-Christians – brought flowers to the detention centre to joyfully celebrate his release. A video of the reunion can be viewed on YouTube.

Pastor Geng was sentenced in August 2022 for "organizing illegal gatherings" because the Church of the Rock, where he served as pastor, refused to join the government-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement. While imprisoned, he found opportunities to continue ministering to the needs of those around him. Respectfully referred to as "Pastor Geng," people in the prison frequently came to him for advice. Even the prison guards treated him with respect. To learn more about his case, go to this page.

Upon the pastor's release, his wife Hao Ying posted a message of thanks on social media. "Thank you all for your constant care and concern," she wrote. "May God remember you and keep you. Please continue to pray for God's blessing on each other."

Please join us in celebrating the release of this faithful Christian leader. Praise God that Pastor Geng was able to minister to inmates and prison guards during his incarceration. Pray that, in the days to come, he would receive many more opportunities to reach people with the "Good News" of the Gospel. As he now readjusts to life outside of prison, may Pastor Geng and his reunited family experience a meaningful time of recovery, peace and joy.

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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