For background on Orthodox Christianity in China, see here.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in China, see here.
“New Round of Persecution: Several Pastors Arrested Or Convicted,” by Yu Bing, China Aid, April 20, 2023:
(China—April 20, 2023) A new round of persecution begins in China as several pastors and Christians have been arrested on arbitrary charges.
GAO GOUJIE
Beijing Christian entrepreneur Gao Guojie was arrested on September 24, 2022 for suspected “fraud.” Police classified a financial transaction between him and another entrepreneur as fraud. His wife Zhou Dahui has asked Christians to pray for them.PASTOR WAN CHANGCHUN
On April 11, 2023, Pastor Wan Changchun of the Living Stone Reformed Church in Bengbu City, Anhui Province was arrested while serving in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. His charge was suspicion of “illegal business operations.” The authorities currently hold Pastor Wan in the Bengbu City Detention Center. After Pastor Wan was arrested, police questioned his wife and the church’s leadership. All the church accounts were frozen and audited. Three days after Pastor Wan’s arrest, police ransacked his home.PREACHER CHANG HAO
Meanwhile, on April 14, Preacher Chang Hao was taken away by authorities. He led a small rural church in Zhenxiong County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. Authorities siezed [sic] his Bibles, spiritual books, and COVID face masks with gospel verses. It remains unclear whether Preacher Chang Hao has been detained. Her wife sent a prayer request asking Christians to pray.BEIJING DENGTAI CHURCH
Recently, the case against Pastor Qin Sifeng of Beijing Dengtai Church and church staff Su Minjun for “illegal business operations” recently opened trial. The outcome of the trial is still unknown. In Yunnan around July 2022, Shandong Zibo police arrested Pastor Qin and Su Minjun while they served. This was an extraterritorial jurisdictional arrest. On August 5, 2022, the Zibo police announced their arrest under the charge of “illegal business operations” and detained them in the Zibo Detention Center. Beijing Dengtai Church has printed some hymn books and theological materials for internal use of the church. It is reported that on the day of the trial, Pastor Qin Sifeng and Su Minjun appeared in handcuffs and shackles, just like felons. Defense attorneys made a plea of not guilty, but the family members said that the case was already determined by the higher authorities. The local police and authorities were only enforcing a predetermined sentence. Yet Pastor Qin Sifeng says he wishes to be sentenced soon so that he can leave the detention center and begin preaching the gospel in prison….
