Trusting God Behind Bars

Leo’s crime was commissioning the printing of several thousand unregistered Bibles, which were to be distributed to Christians in China. The printing operation had been discovered, along with Leo’s name and phone number. Chinese police raided the printer on the day before the job was scheduled to be completed.

Leo was arrested and taken to a detention center, where he was isolated from any news or outside contact. He didn’t know if his wife, Mira, had been implicated in the operation, though at the time she was primarily occupied with raising their two small children at home. Leo didn’t even know if anyone knew where he was.

After his formal arraignment, Leo settled into a regular routine in the crowded and dirty detention center. In his first trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison. Then months of appeals ensued, all with very limited contact, even with his attorney.

“I was very anxious my first month in jail,” Leo said, “worrying about my uncertain future.” But he said that during prayer, he felt the Lord lead him from anxiety to peace. “Even though I was not sure how God would use me in the future, I believed he would save me and set me free,” he said. “Little by little, my heart calmed.”

His lawyer told Mira that as Leo’s outlook improved, he had a greater effect on others in the prison. “People noticed that he was at peace, even while he was in prison,” Mira said.

In the meantime, Mira had to manage her own anxieties as well as their children’s. “I knew [the circumstances were] from God, but at first it was a real struggle,” Mira said. “I wanted Leo to come home fast. I complained to God a little about this, and I gave up a little bit. But then I just knew that God was in control … and I should do whatever I needed to do. I needed to take care of my kids and my house, and so I settled in to do that.”

After months of waiting on the appeals process, Leo’s sentence was reduced to 10 months, which was the amount of time he had already served. He was also fined 20,000 CNY ($2,800 USD), which was later reduced when his lawyer argued that Leo had not made any money from distributing Bibles.

As Leo’s ministry work faced tighter scrutiny after his release from prison, Mira took on more responsibilities. She now works with local church pastors who identify specific believers in need of Bibles, praying that the thousands of Bibles provided to these pastors will be delivered without detection.

“Pray that churches will find brave and faithful recipients and that the Bible can reach those who truly need it,” she said.

Despite the price her family paid for printing Bibles, Mira says the reward was greater than the cost. “Actually, what my family experienced is very common,” she said, “and to read and learn and experience the Word is much more important in our life. I just want as many people as possible to have a Bible to read.”