Two leaders of Linfen Covenant Home Church in Shanxi province were released on 19 April and were reunited with their wives and families after completing prison sentences of three years and eight months.
The day after their release, pastors Li Jie and Han Xiaodong attended a celebration at a church in the provincial capital Taiyuan, around 250 km from Linfen, where they were also reunited with their coworker, elder Wang Qiang, who was arrested shortly after the two pastors but received a shorter sentence and was released in September 2024.
The church leaders and their wives are pictured above, from left: Chen Ying, Pastor Han Xiaodong, Li Shanshan, Pastor Li Jie, Elder Wang Qiang and Wen Huijuan. The banner behind them reads, “Dad, welcome home”.
The release process reportedly went relatively smoothly, with no requirement to sign documents that would violate their faith principles, and staff from the judicial bureau were described as friendly and even offered to help family members take photos. (Li Jie is pictured with his family, left, and Han Xiaodong is pictured with his family, below.)
Pastor Li’s wife Li Shanshan previously spoke out about her husband’s mistreatment in Taiyuan No. 2 Prison, saying that he was given inadequate food and rest and that the prison had failed to provide him with basic necessities such as toilet paper, soap, a toothbrush and a towel.
Despite the mistreatment, China Aid said following the Christians’ release, “Although their bodies had been in bondage, fellow Christians and their families stated that their spirits had remained free in their faith. Family members expressed that this reunion was not only a family homecoming, but more significantly, a testimony to the belief that ‘the truth shall set you free’.”
Background
The case dates back to 2022, when Li Jie and Han Xiaodong were detained in August and Wang Qiang in November after over one hundred police officers raided a church camp. In June 2023 they were charged with “fraud” in relation to the collection of free-will donations from church members – a common charge against leaders of unregistered churches in China.
Following the raid, authorities questioned many members of the large, unregistered church in an attempt to gather evidence against the detained leaders and some members were pressurised by their employers and families to say they were victims of fraud.
The framing of religious activities as economic crimes has become increasingly common in recent years as a way to suppress unregistered house churches while avoiding international criticism of religious freedom violations. It can lead to imprisonment of pastors as well as cutting off financial support for church operations.
The three Christians’ trial began on 8 May 2025 amid heavy security and the verdict was delivered behind closed doors on 20 June 2025: Li Jie and Han Xiaodong were sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in prison and Wang Qiang was sentenced to 1 year and 11 months in prison. He had already been released, however, and did not have to return to prison.
Following the release of the church leaders, China Aid stated: “Since the persecution began, members of the Linfen Covenant Home Church have continued to support one another through hardship. The return of these three core coworkers brings great comfort to church members who have long endured a high-pressure environment. Although many challenges remain ahead, the resilience and forgiveness demonstrated by those who suffered and their families once again prompt deep reflection on the current plight of house churches in China.”
(China Aid)
Photos: China Aid