Elder Zhang Chunlei of Guiyang Ren’ai Reformed Church recently sent a letter from prison to his daughters Qing’er and Xi’er in which he expresses longing and concern for his loved ones, reflects on the injustice he has endured and shares insights on faith, the church and serving the nation.

Elder Zhang is the leader of the banned Ren’ai (Love) Reformed Church in Guiyang, capital of China’s southwestern Guizhou province. His house church refuses to join China’s official Protestant church, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, and he has been in detention since March 2021. In July 2024 he was sentenced to five years in prison for “fraud and inciting subversion of state power”, with an expected release date in March 2026.

Elder Zhang has been under surveillance by Guiyang authorities since 2018, when he signed the “Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith”, a joint statement written by Pastor Wang Yi of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church that was signed by over 450  Christian leaders.

Injustice

In his letter (pictured) Elder Zhang describes the “overwhelming sense of grievance” he has felt at his separation from his family, but writes that through silent prayer he has identified with the anguish and injustice Christ experienced in Gethsemane and on the cross, which makes his own suffering feel “trivial” in comparison. This, he says, has brought him to a sense of “shame and healing” and he marvels that God’s grace is made perfect in weakness.

Commenting on the injustice of Elder Zhang’s case, China Aid’s Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai points out, “His sincere desire to contribute to the nation stands in stark contrast to the unfair treatment and charges he faces, particularly the highly questionable ‘fraud’ accusation, given that no ‘victim’ has ever reported a loss or appeared in court.”

Faith, the church and serving the nation

In Elder Zhang’s letter he emphasises the desire of Christians to contribute to the nation and highlights the historic role of the church in education, healthcare, culture and charity within Chinese society. He writes that in prison he asks himself, “What more can I do when I’m released?” and requests his family to pray for this intention, though stressing that all work must remain rooted in the church.

The pastor has spent his prison years in much contemplation, focusing on the cross, the golden lampstand (the church) and the Messiah – he writes: “The Cross is the focus, the Lampstand is the priority, and the Messiah is everything.”

“Everything is fine in prison”

Elder Zhang reassures his family that “everything is fine in prison, and the conditions are good, there is fruit and milk” and says he draws inspiration from the Apostle Paul, who sang praises while imprisoned in Philippi and became a blessing to the guards.

Elder Zhang closes his letter by sending greetings to relatives, friends and church members, mentioning many by name. He also mentions “Shuya’s father” (Pastor Wang Yi) and his lawyers and their families.

Read Elder Zhang’s Prisoner Profile.

(China Aid)

Photos: China Aid