THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT NEVER SAW THIS COMING
Dear Friend,
Can prison walls stop the Gospel?
China’s communist government certainly believes they can.
Pastors are regularly arrested. Churches are raided. Believers disappear into prison and detention centers. Bibles are confiscated. Every effort is made to silence the name of Jesus.
Yet time and again, God proves that no prison, no government, and no power on earth can stop His Kingdom from advancing.
Earlier in July, I learned of an extraordinary story that beautifully demonstrates this truth.
After spending more than six months in detention, Pastor Dai Zhichao of Early Rain Covenant Church was finally allowed to meet with his lawyer. Pastor Dai served alongside Senior Pastor Wang Yi, who is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence because of his unwavering commitment to Christ and the faithful proclamation of the Gospel.
A PASTOR FINALLY SPEAKS
No one could have imagined the remarkable story Pastor Dai shared.
When prison officials assigned him to a detention cell, they unknowingly placed him in the very same prison cell that had once housed Elder Wu Jianan, another faithful house church leader. Prison officials arrested Elder Wu Jianan in November 2021 and later sentenced him to three years in prison for his Christian ministry.
Now more than two years had passed since Elder Wu had lived there.
But God had not forgotten that prison cell nor a certain prisoner.
AN UNFINISHED STORY
While Elder Wu was imprisoned, he faithfully shared the Gospel with another inmate—a man who had been sentenced to death. The condemned prisoner believed the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, but before Elder Wu could continue discipling him, he was transferred to another prison.
The story seemed unfinished.
What would become of the man on death row?
Then God intervened.
In His perfect sovereignty, Pastor Dai Zhichao was later assigned to that very same prison, and to that very same prison cell.
Waiting there was the same death-row inmate.
What the authorities intended for punishment, God had orchestrated for redemption.
Pastor Dai continued teaching the man about Christ and had the incredible privilege of secretly baptizing him before his execution.
A PRISON MIRACLE
A short time later, prison guards came for the condemned man.
He was led away to be executed.
But this time, he did not walk into eternity alone.
He went to meet his Savior.
The communist authorities believed they were carrying out a sentence of death.
Heaven welcomed another redeemed soul into eternal life.
Reflecting on this remarkable testimony, Pastor Dai’s wife, Lu Lingzhi, wrote these unforgettable words:
“It truly is miraculous. God is so full of mercy. For the salvation of the world, He did not hesitate to give His one and only Son. And for the salvation of one sinner, He did not hesitate to send two of His servants to prison (and to the same prison and cell). Who can hinder those whom God has chosen?“
What an incredible picture of God’s love. He never forgets.
THE GOD OF POSSIBILITES
When we look at a Chinese prison, we see injustice, suffering, and hopelessness. God sees a mission field.
We see locked prison doors. God sees open hearts.
We see hostile guards and persecution. God sees eternal victories.
The authorities could imprison Pastor Dai. They could imprison Elder Wu.They could even execute a believer. But they could not imprison the Gospel.
They could not stop God’s plan. And they could not prevent one more precious soul from entering heaven.
STAND WITH CHINA’S CHURCH
As you read this story, remember Pastor Dai Zhichao, his wife Lu Lingzhi, Pastor Wang Yi, Early Rain Covenant Church, and the millions of believers across China who continue to stand faithfully for Christ despite relentless persecution.
Pray that God will strengthen them with courage, protect their families, and continue using their faithful witness to bring many more people to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
The Gospel is still advancing. Even behind prison walls.
Yours for Asia’s Harvest,
(Reverend) Dale R. Hiscock
Executive Director
PS: Despite increasing persecution, AsiaLink’s partners continue to print and distribute Bibles to believers throughout China. Your gift today will help place God’s Word into the hands of Christians who risk everything to follow Jesus. Together, we can ensure that the Gospel continues advancing—even behind prison walls.
MONDAY / China - CHINESE HOUSE CHURCH LEADER MIRACULOUSLY FREED FROM PRISON
Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of an underground church in Beijing, China and a prisoner of conscience in that country, for almost nine months, was released from imprison-ment and reunited with his family in the US on Independence Day, US officials said. On Saturday July the 4th Pastor Jin Mingri was finally reunited with his family.
Pastor Jin’s case has been part of a broader crackdown on religious freedom by the Chinese Communist Party. Yet our hearts remain heavy for the eight other pastors and coworkers from Zion Church, along with countless other prisoners of faith still unjustly held. His release is an encouraging step…
Pastor Jin founded the Zion Church of Beijing in 2007 with just 20 people. It grew into one of China’s largest urban unregistered house churches, with a network of some 10,000 people in 40 cities across the country. By contrast many house church networks in China number in the millions of believers.
Zion Church was officially banned by the Chinese Communist Party in 2018 after resisting government pressure to install security cameras at its property in Beijing. Many of its branch congregations across the country have since been investigated and shut down.
When Chinese officials removed Pastor Jin from Beihai Detention Centre in Guangxi province on July 3 he initially thought he was being transferred to another facility and was only informed that he would be travelling to the US at the airport, where officials gave him a new passport.
His wife Anna Chunli Liu wrote on X that, “It wasn’t until yesterday morning – July 3rd – when I finally received the definitive news that my husband, ‘Pastor Jin had boarded the plane to Los Angeles’ that my heart truly settled. Before that, I didn’t even dare believe that such a miracle had really become reality.”
Family members said Pastor Jin has lost approximately 15 kilograms (33 pounds), but remains in good spirits.
“We are feeling so overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle,” his daughter Grace Jin Drexel said in a family statement to various news sources. “We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership,” she said, saying this could not have happened “without the direct intervention from Chairman Xi Jinping.” Drexel said they hoped Jin’s release would be “a signal of a positive turn for people of faith in China and relations between our two nations.”
• Praise God for the release of Pastor Jin, and pray that he will continue to recover from his experience.
• Ask the Lord to strengthen church leaders and all believers in China’s house churches as they risk their safety and security to serve Him.
TUESDAY / China - CHINESE PASTORS STILL IN PRISON
While Pastor Jin is free, however, eight Zion Church leaders and co-workers remain in Beihai Detention Centre.
Pastors Yin Huibin, Gao Yingjia, Wang Lin, Liu Zhenbin, Lin Shucheng and Wang Cong, Preacher Wu Qiuyu and Elder Wang Zhong were part of a group of eighteen pastors and church workers detained in a crackdown on Zion Church in October 2025 – nine were released on bail on June 18.
Pastor Wang, has been accused of fraud, by receiving financial offerings made by Christians. Pastor Wang said that this “is not a denial of any individual or group, but a denial of the two-thousand-year-old Christian tradition and faith itself.”
The original charge brought against Pastor Wang, and others, was “illegally using information networks.” This charge has now been changed to “illegal business operations” and “fraud.”
To date, attorneys, for those still in custody, have not been allowed to review the case files and they do not know the contents of the formal indictment.
Pastor Wang is personally requesting that all Christians join him in praying that God will lead and guide the prosecutor: “To make the correct legal judgment—that is, to determine if the law was misapplied, if the charges are not valid, and to dismiss the case.”
Pastor Wang’s wife, Sara Su, was also initially arrested and then released. She said the government authorities used her arrest and the safety of their two children, to coerce her husband into pleading guilty, accepting punishment, and signing a confession.
She is also earnestly asking, “that churches around the world to continue standing watch and praying until Pastor Wang and all the pastors, brothers, and sisters who remain detained are set free.”
• Pray for those in prison awaiting trail and for the families who are suffering on the outside cut off from their spouse.
• Pray that God’s presence would sustain those in prison and those families on the outside.
WEDNESDAY / India - ANTI-CONVERSION LAW AFFECTS ANOTHER STATE
India’s Maharashtra state is on the verge of becoming India’s 13th state with an anti-conversion law.
The state government has already passed the bill, and the state’s Legislative Council is expected to give final approval soon. Teaching the Bible, praying for people, baptizing someone, and inviting non-Christians to church are now considered serious crimes. The law classifies these actions as “hypnotizing,” and the person involved faces 10 years imprisonment.
An Indian pastor shared, “All my churches are closed. Christians are not allowed to follow their Bible. State and central government has taken decision to convert all christian in to Hinduism. Please pray for us.”
He shared that Hindu extremists are beating Christians randomly, destroying churches and threatening believers.
He also shared that Hindu extremists are going from house to house, checking whether people worship idols; if they don’t find any idols in the house, they beat everyone and destroy homes and churches in the area.
He shared, “Many many pastors are in jail, police custody. We are unable to meet as church.”
• Pray for our Indian brothers and sisters who are facing increased pressure to live their Christian life.
THURSDAY / Bangladesh - DAUGHTER ATTACKED, PARENTS ASSAULTED
Sister Luck, a Christian evangelist, was confronted and warned to stop her gospel work.
In 2025, a radical Muslim mob attacked her home, beat her and her husband, and burned 15 Bibles.
In response, they gave thanks that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ, and Luck boldly continued to spread the Good News in their village.
Later that year, a group of Muslim men followed her 11-year-old daughter from school and assaulted her, leaving the whole family traumatized and afraid.
• Pray for healing and protection for Luck’s daughter as well as peace and spiritual renewal for their family.
FRIDAY / Pakistan - FALSE ACCUSATION LEADS TO CHURCH ATTACK
A mob attacked a church after accusing a deacon of blaspheming Islam.
The deacon had found “Muhammad” painted on the alleyway outside the church and cleaned it to prevent accusations. Still, someone stirred up a mob, claiming he had no right to touch the word.
The deacon and pastor fled, and the deacon lost his job and went into hiding. Police later arrested the graffiti artist, who was released after claiming mental instability.
• Pray for the church’s safety and for boldness among Pakistani Christians facing such attacks.
SATURDAY / China - PASTOR SERVING 9 YEARS IMPRISONMENT
On December 9, 2018, authorities detained Pastor Wang Yi, pastor of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu and a former human rights attorney, alongside a hundred members of his congregation during a series of police raids on church gatherings. Wang and his congregation were targeted for failing to register their church with authorities and subject it to state regulation. He was charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and “illegal business operations.”
On December 30, 2019, the Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Wang to 9 years in prison and 3 years of deprived political rights for “inciting subversion of state power” and “illegal business activity.”
There are reports that Wang has been held in solitary confinement and been denied adequate medical care.
Wang is married.
• Pray for Pastor Wang Yi and the many others of his house church who have been imprisoned. Pastor Yi was sentenced to 9 years in prison in 2019.
• Pray for his wife Jiang Rong who has been under 24-hour surveillance.
• Pray God would strengthen Pastor Wang, his wife, family and other Christians.