“We are Christians. [Persecution] can happen any time.” As the pastor of an illegal house church in China, “Brother Enfu” knows the truth of that statement. Listen as he shares why and how he prepares his wife and children for the day he may eventually be arrested and sent to prison. He will give an update on Christian persecution in China and how believers there are responding faithfully despite increasing government pressure. Enfu will explain how a new law prohibits foreigners in China from talking about their faith—even in private settings. He’ll also share how the CCP’s persecution strategy has changed, charging pastors and other church leaders with “fraud” or other financial crimes rather than using overtly religious criminal charges. “Christianity is the narrow way, and the government is warning people about it,” Enfu says. Instead of large church events, the gospel is spreading through one-on-one conversations with co-workers or neighbors as Christians share what Jesus has done in their lives. Brother Enfu encourages pastors and church leaders he trains to stay in China and serve Christians there, rather than leaving China for a more comfortable position in the West. He says that when he hears of a brother or sister imprisoned for their faith, it’s an encouragement to him, even as he acknowledges the suffering they are enduring. Pastor Wang Yi is one of those Chinese pastors who stayed in China and stood firm in his faith. He is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence. Pray Chinese believers will be faithful in their daily life and ministry and pray for government leaders, including President Xi Jinping, to find and follow Christ. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.
Read MoreWhen Yang Rongli, a pastor of Linfen Golden Lampstand Church in Shanxi Province, China, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, she responded with words of celebration. “I got the top reward!” she said, considering it an honor to suffer for Christ and referring to the fact that her prison sentence was longer than other church members. She and her husband, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, remain in prison. Listen this week as Bob Fu, former prisoner for Christ in China and the founder and president of China Aid Association, shares updates from persecuted Christians in China, including Pastor John Cao, Pastor Wang Yi, and other Chinese Christians. The Chinese Communist Party continues to pursue absolute government control of churches and other religious institutions in China. Pastors and church leaders face long prison sentences for “fraud” when their church collects tithes and offerings, or “illegal border crossing” if they travel to meet with fellow believers outside China. Despite being prevented from leaving China following the completion of his seven-year prison sentence, Pastor John Cao continues serving the Lord through daily prayer meetings. He’s even baptized new believers—despite Communist guards required to escort him everywhere he goes! Bob Fu, author of God’s Double Agent, reports on recent church raids in China, including arrests of children attending Vacation Bible School. The Communist Party forbids any religious outreach or training for children under age 18. With two years remaining in his nine-year sentence, Pastor Wang Yi has composed books in his head during his time in prison, as well as praying daily through a list of more than 1,000 prayer requests. You can write letters of encouragement to Wang Yi and other Christian prisoners in China, Eritrea, Iran and other nations at www.PrisonerAlert.com. There are a few seats remaining at VOM’s From the Field 2025 National Conference. The conference will take place in Bartlesville, Oklahoma September 25-27. Attendees will hear from Bob Fu and other persecuted Christians—including several former VOM Radio guests—during the conference. Learn more and register online today.
Read MoreIn the eyes of the Chinese Communist Party, loving Jesus makes Christians “unpatriotic.” Bob Fu, founder and president of China Aid, explains: “[The communists believe] you cannot love your country and love Jesus.” Absolute government control of churches and other religious institutions continues to tighten in China as persecuted Christians are unwilling to comply with the doctrines of the Communist Party, which is expanding efforts to “Sinicize” the church. Listen to hear how pastors and church leaders are now being charged with fraud or other financial crimes, rather than charges relating to religion. Bob Fu, author of God’s Double Agent, will also share an update on John Cao, who was released from prison last year but still is not free. The CCP continues to watch Cao’s every move, yet he continues to serve the Lord through a house church, daily prayer meetings, and a small Bible school — even baptizing new believers despite constant surveillance! Pastor Wang Yi is now six years into his nine-year prison sentence. Like Richard Wurmbrand, who founded The Voice of the Martyrs and wrote hundreds of sermons in his head during his 14 years in prison, Wang Yi has written three books in prison. Wang also continues to pray daily through more than a thousand items on his prayer list. If you’d like to write letters of encouragement to Christian prisoners or petition their governments, go to www.PrisonerAlert.com. Listen as Bob Fu shares how he stays personally encouraged despite constantly hearing of the sufferings of our spiritual family in China. He also suggests specific ways to pray for our Chinese Christian brothers and sisters. The Voice of the Martyrs recently launched a new, daily podcast; Extreme Devotion is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving free access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.
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On Aug. 7, 2021, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang; his wife, Yang Rongli; and other leaders of the Linfen church in Shanxi Province were arrested. They were accused of fraud, which is how the Chinese Communist Party characterizes the collection of tithes in the church. After almost four years of detention, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison. In a separate trial, Yang Rongli was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Together, they also face fines of 2.3 million yuan, or more than $320,000.
Read MoreAccording to an announcement issued by the Xi’an Civil Affairs Bureau on July 29, 2025, Xi’an Living Spring Church was determined by the government to be an illegal social organization and banned. Because of the government’s coercive efforts for total control, many house churches do not register, making them highly vulnerable to crackdowns from authorities. Such incidents usually occur out of public view, so it is difficult to accurately estimate the number of churches affected.
Read MorePastor Chang Shun of Maizhong Reformed Church was detained on June 29, 2025, on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings.” His wife, Li Yunyan, reported that he has faced ongoing persecution by the authorities since 2021, including detentions and fines. She said local authorities forcibly entered their home to arrest her husband in June and also detained several of their house guests for questioning before expelling them from the city. Since her husband’s arrest, Li Yunyan has been harassed and followed, and her two young children fear for their father.
Read MoreOn July 30, 2025, Pastor Pu Jinshun, Elder Zhu Zhengwu and several co-workers from the Lingshan Church in Chuxiong, Yunnan, were arrested by local police and taken to a detention center. The specific charges have not been made public. In recent years, the church has been unable to use its purchased office building as a meeting place due to governmental pressure.
Read MorePastor John Cao served as a missionary in Myanmar’s Wa State, transforming lives by building schools and working to fight poverty and drug addiction. On March 5, 2017, Chinese authorities intercepted Cao, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence. He was released on March 4, 2024. Cao continues to face restrictions on his freedom and movement by Chinese authorities, including video monitoring, forced “re-education,” and refusal to issue him an ID card, which prevents him from medical care, even when he suffered a life-threatening bout of coronavirus.
Read MorePray for one Christian woman who has been instrumental in sharing the gospel with a highly restricted minority group. Though she has never received formal training, and despite the physical demands on her frail body, she has been a faithful witness to advance God’s kingdom to this people group.
Read MoreAn underground church in China has developed a discipleship relationship with a family from a highly restricted people group in a sensitive location. This family is part of a small fellowship of Christians that has suffered rejection and persecution within their community. As leaders of the church train the father to evangelize and pastor his people, pray for the security of this family as well as receptive hearts among their community, which has not had a strong Christian witness before now.
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