Bao and Xing opposed cross demolitions like this one.

Expose
Pastor, wife sentenced to 10+ years in prison

Officials in China’s coastal Zhejiang province sentenced 12 Christians to prison on Feb. 25 after a pastor publicly opposed the province’s ongoing cross demolition campaign.

Bao Guohua, pastor of Jinhua Christian Church, was initially detained on July 26, 2015, along with his wife Xing Wenxiang, and their son Bao Chenxing, after they spoke out against forced cross removals. Later, authorities forced the family to dismiss their lawyers. Xing subsequently wrote letters to family and friends on Oct. 20, asking them to hire legal aid.

On Feb. 25, Bao Guohua and Xing were found guilty of four crimes: embezzlement; gathering a crowd to disturb public order; illegal business operations; and concealing accounting documents, accounting books, or financial statements.

Bao Guohua was sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 Yuan (U.S. $15,300). Xing received a 12-year prison sentence and was fined 90,000 Yuan (U.S. $13,770). Authorities also confiscated assets totaling 600,000 Yuan (U.S. $91,850) from the couple. Their son received a three-year prison sentence.

Nine other members of Jinhua Christian Church staff received sentences of varying lengths.

China Aid reports abuses, such as those experienced by Bao Guohua, Xing and Bao Chenxing, in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China. If you would like to find out more about how you can help China Aid support the families of prisoners such as Bao and Xing, click here to see the latest initiatives.