John Cao Unable to Return to the United States

ChinaAid 14 August 2025

Pastor John Cao is leaning against a railing with water behind him. — Pastor John Cao
Photo: John Cao via ChinaAid

In March 2017, Pastor John Cao was arrested by Chinese authorities for allegedly "organizing illegal border crossings" while conducting ministry work along the border between China and Myanmar. Sentenced to seven years in prison, he was finally released in March 2024. (For more information on the church leader's arrest, see this list.)

Following his release from prison, Pastor John hoped to return to his wife in the United States, where he holds permanent residency. However, Chinese authorities have consistently refused to grant the Christian leader a passport, preventing him from leaving the country. Now, more than one year after his release, the pastor remains unable to reunite with his wife and family, including his newborn grandson.

Reflecting on his situation, Pastor John remarked that it feels as though he left a "small prison" only to enter a "large prison." He is not alone in this experience, for many other former prisoners in China have been "exit-banned" for decades as an additional form of punishment. Despite the personal hardships he continues to endure, Pastor John expressed that he has no regrets over his ministry involvement in China. "Being able to return to China to serve the Lord is God's greatest blessing for me," he states. "Everyone, please share in my joy and continue to pray for me."

Pray that Pastor John will be able to return to the United States and finally reunite with his long-suffering wife and family.
In the meantime, ask the Lord to bless this church leader's continued ministry work in China, granting him and his separated family renewed patience, joy and strength each new day.
Continue to pray for peace, endurance and courage on behalf of the many believers throughout this Communist nation who are likewise encountering difficulties and harassment because of their faith.

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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