[Today’s Prayer] Chinese believers imprisoned for years for selling Bibles at a discount

It was reported that the case of 10 Christians in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, was brought to trial last month after a delay of about three years. These Christians are accused of operating an illegal business by purchasing Bibles from state-run Three-Self churches and then reselling them at lower prices to other Christians.

Despite the charitable nature of these Christian activities, the ten defendants have already been detained for two years and seven months. According to CEO, Hyunsuk Foley, the oldest person, 68-year-old evangelist Wang Hongran, has been imprisoned for a total of five years, including a year of labor reeducation for his faith.

CEO Hyunsuk Foley, said, “The authorities used every means possible to shame evangelist Wang Hongran. At last month's trial, Wang Hongran entered the court handcuffed like a dangerous prisoner and was repeatedly abused during the investigation and before the trial.

In answering the police's questions, Wang Hongran explained that he helped many children with their studies and even helped them go abroad to study. The police denounced Wang Hong-ran as a liar, but many parents of children who received help from Wang Hong-ran attended the hearing last month to support her."

He continued, “When Wang Hongran was being interrogated, he was threatened by the police, saying, ‘If you don’t sign a confession, your entire family will be imprisoned.’ So he signed all the documents. However, because the confession was essentially coerced, we believe that the court did not include the video and recording of Wang Hongran's interrogation submitted by the police as evidence at the trial.”

(omitted)

Defense lawyers argued on the basis that the Christians' actions were altruistic. CEO Hyunsook Foley said, “The defense lawyers recommended that all charges be dismissed, arguing that the defendants are being tried because they did good deeds, not because they committed a crime. One of the lawyers said, ‘We are all beneficiaries of the Bible. Many Christians probably have Bibles that Wang Hongran and the other defendants financially subsidized. The defendants, including Wang Hongran, paid a heavy price for this. “I, the lawyer urges everyone not to forget those who endure hardships to protect their faith,” he said.

(omitted)

CEO Hyunsook Foley said, “Several lawyers are defending those Christians. Evangelist Wang Hong-ran and other co-defendants have already been imprisoned for several years, even though they are clearly innocent and the charges are groundless. We pray that the Lord will conclude this trial quickly and justly, through which the honor of His servants will be restored and the Lord will be glorified. But if it pleases You and is in accordance with Your eternal will for them to continue to testify for You in court and in prison, then I pray that you will give them strength to testify boldly and to persevere in any suffering they may have to endure in Your name," he added.

Source: Christian Today

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:19-21

We hear of Chinese believers imprisoned for buying Bibles in China and then reselling them at lower prices to other Christians.

Lord, these people are being judged for their good deeds by helping poor and needy children with their studies, distributing Bibles, and preaching the gospel.

The labor of love of those who follow the truth into the light and do good in God is being hated by the darkness.

Lord, among the nine saints, including Wang Hong-ran, please grant them the strength to endure the pain they must endure in the name of Jesus.

Please quickly end this trial justly, and let the evil deeds of those who love darkness rather than light be exposed to the light, so that their lies are judged and only the glory of God is revealed.

Please help them to see more Christians in China through those who follow the truth, and help them to rise up as a Chinese church that boldly spreads the gospel.