China Aid
Recent News About China Aid
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On the morning of May 14, 2024, preacher Chang Hao, who was accused of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” received his verdict from the Zhenxiong Court. The court sentenced him to one year and one month in prison. Chang Hao had been arrested on April 14, 2023, exactly one year and one month prior to the verdict. Consequently, upon the announcement of the verdict, Chang Hao immediately gained his freedom and exited the courtroom with his family and fellow Christians.
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Citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was sentenced to four years in prison for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, was due to be released on May 13th. However, it appears that she has not regained her freedom as expected. It is speculated that she has been illegally detained by the Shanghai Public Security Bureau after her release, but friends and supporters have no way of knowing her exact whereabouts.
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On May 5, 2024, Pastor Zhou Songlin of Ganquan Church in Hefei, Anhui Province, responded from prison to the recent divisions among church co-workers over his wife and Elder Ding Zhongfu’s wife hiring defense lawyers for them. He stated that the persecution he and Elder Ding Zhongfu are facing is actually political persecution. They did not actively participate in politics but were forced into it, only to realize the church is not in a political vacuum.
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ChinaAid has exclusively published a series of poetry and writings from Pastor John Cao, a recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience. The pieces were written on May 11, 2024, and have been minimally edited for clarity.
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Pastor Huang Lei of Rock Bible Church in Yueyang, Hunan Province was recently subjected to a 15-day administrative detention by local police due to his Christian faith. After completing his detention, he has now been released. The decision to impose this detention was made by the YueyangLou District Public Security Bureau in Yueyang City, Hunan Province on April 24, 2024. Pastor Huang was subsequently released from the Yueyang City Detention Center on May 9 after completing his detention. This marks the second time he has been subjected to administrative detention since 2022.
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The 35th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre is being marked by Hong Kong Christians with a commemorative prayer and a joint signature campaign. The prayer, titled “Amidst the silence, we hear tearful prayers; Watching through the long night, we see the light of grace,” is open to public signatures until May 19 and will be published in the “Christian Times” on June 2.
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ChinaAid has exclusively published a series of poetry and writings from Pastor John Cao, a recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience. The following pieces were written on May 4, 2024, and have been minimally edited for clarity. To delve deeper into Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection he wrote while imprisoned, titled "Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison."
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On the morning of May 2, 2024, Wang Xiaofei, wife of Pastor Yang Xibo from Xunsiding Church in Xiamen, and Li Shanshan, wife of Pastor Li Jie from Covenant House Church in Linfen, visited Fuyang, Anhui Province with their children. They were there to meet Pastor Zhang Sen and Elder Chang Shun of Fuyang Maizhong Reformed Church. The visit involved a shared lunch and exchange of ideas.
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ChinaAid has exclusively published a series of poetry and writings from Pastor John Cao, a recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience. The pieces were written on April 29, 2024, and have been minimally edited for clarity.
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In Guiyang, Guizhou Province, Elder Zhang Chunlei was recently visited by a defense lawyer at the Guiyang City Detention Center where he has been imprisoned for three years. The news of the release of Elders Hao Ming and Elder Wu Jiannan from Qingcaodi Reformed Church in Deyang brought him comfort.
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"On April 28, 2024, a defense lawyer visited 70-year-old Pastor Lian Changnian of Xi’an Church of Abundance, who is being held on suspicion of 'fraud,' at the Xi’an Baqiao Detention Center. During this visit, the lawyer noticed that Pastor Lian’s hair, which was graying before his imprisonment, had turned completely white. His face was deeply wrinkled, and he appeared listless and highly tense, with an unusual demeanor and behavior. He would either use his hand to support his head from different directions or keep his head lowered. His voice was very low, and he would only...
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Reflections from Pastor John Cao is a series of poetry and writings from the recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience exclusively published by ChinaAid. The piece below was written on April 26, 2024 and has been minimally edited for clarity. To read more of Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection written while he was imprisoned, Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison.
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On May 7, 2024, in Hefei, Anhui Province, the wives of Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu, who were arrested for their faith, responded to criticism from some believers in an open letter. The situation arose after the two wives hired lawyers for their husbands following their arrests. The Ganquan Church in Hefei, with a history of over 20 years and four to five hundred believers, faced challenges due to religious persecution, leading to the arrest of several church leaders on suspicion of fraud.
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Reflections from Pastor John Cao is a series of poetry and writings from the recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience exclusively published by ChinaAid. The piece below was written on April 23, 2024 and has been minimally edited for clarity. To read more of Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection written while he was imprisoned, Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison.
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"Reflections from Pastor John Cao is a series of poetry and writings from the recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience exclusively published by ChinaAid. The pieces below were written on April 24, 2024 and has been minimally edited for clarity. To read more of Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection written while he was imprisoned, Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison.
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(Hohhot, Inner Mongolia – May 6, 2024) It is reported that in the case of Wang Honglan and other Christians in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, who were charged with “illegal business operations,” four of the involved Christians – Ji Heying, Ji Guolong, Liu Wei, and Zhang Wang – were released on bail at 10:00 a.m. on April 14, 2024, leaving the detention center and returning home. The lengthy trial began on November 20 last year and lasted nearly 50 days, finally concluding in early January this year. Four other Christians – Wang Honglan, Wang Jiale, Liu Minna, and Yang Zhijun – are...
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(Guiyang, Guizhou Province – May 6, 2024) Elder Zhang Chunlei of Guiyang Renai Reformed Church has been facing a prolonged legal battle after being tried on charges of "inciting subversion of state power" and "fraud" in a closed-door session at the Guiyang Intermediate People’s Court on November 29, 2022. Despite the passage of one and a half years since the trial, Elder Zhang Chunlei still awaits a verdict, with concerns rising over the extended period of his detention.The defense lawyers representing Elder Zhang Chunlei have encountered obstacles in accessing the case...
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Reflections from Pastor John Cao, a recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience, shed light on the bureaucratic challenges faced by Chinese citizens in obtaining essential documents. Pastor John Cao's firsthand account, published by ChinaAid, reveals the Kafkaesque hurdles encountered in basic administrative processes in China.Cao recounts an incident where he was asked to prove his identity despite being a native of Changsha, China, stating, "I was asked to prove that I was from Changsha." This requirement, seemingly unnecessary for a lifelong resident,...
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(Suizhou, Hubei Province – May 6, 2024) On April 25, 2024, the Zengdu District Branch of the Suizhou Public Security Bureau arrested 75-year-old Yang Zhijin, a member of the All Ranges Church, on suspicion of organizing and utilizing superstitious sect or cult organizations.The arrest notice revealed, "With the approval of the People’s Procuratorate of Zengdu District, Suizhou City, our bureau executed the arrest of Yang Zhijin at 16:00 on April 25, 2024, on suspicion of 'sabotaging the enforcement of law by organizing and utilizing superstitious sect or cult...
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Pastor John Cao, a Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience recently released, has shared his reflections and poetry in a series exclusively published by ChinaAid. In his writings, Pastor Cao delves into deep emotions and spiritual insights garnered during his time in prison.In one of his poignant pieces, Pastor Cao expresses gratitude for the support and love he received during his seven years of imprisonment, stating, "Everyone accompanied me through these seven years of imprisonment, showing deep love." He reflects on the connections he made and the encouragement he...