Recently, new information has come from Linfen Covenant Home Church in Shanxi Province. The case has now been returned by the Linfen City People’s Procuratorate to the Yaodu District Procuratorate for further review and prosecution.
The physical and mental conditions of the three brothers are still acceptable. Brother Wang Qiang showed special concern for the recent situation of the brothers and sisters. The police notified Sister Wen Huijuan to retrieve some of her husband Wang Qiang’s belongings.
Han Xiaodong’s parents were initially against him quitting his teaching job at Linfen No.1 Middle School to serve full-time. However, after their son was imprisoned, his father, through the lawyer, told Xiaodong not to worry about the family. The parents would help take care of the child and look after themselves. They had anticipated this day since he chose this path. In darkness, one must see the light, and after the storm, there will be a rainbow. The elderly also praised their daughter-in-law, Chen Ying, for being sensible and taking on a lot.
Before Xiaodong was imprisoned, he said that when there is nothing else, he should fulfill his duties as a son, husband, and father, but once he is imprisoned for the Lord, he must leave his family behind.
He said persecution is a blessing, and he is willing to emulate Jeremiah, praying for peace in this city. One day, we will understand that all this is meaningful. May God turn the persecution and hatred on this land into grace. He hopes that those who persecute our faith will one day become witnesses for the Lord. He does not want children to grow up in hatred, but to grow with love and grace.
Brother Li Jie, upon hearing what Xiaodong’s father said, was moved to tears. He said Xiaodong has great faith in God. Li Jie also told his family that he loves them, but do not live a compromising life, for that would lead to a lifetime of regret. To live for the Lord is to live in peace of heart.
Li Jie mentioned that the cultural level of people in detention is very low, generally only elementary or junior high school education, and they often come from problematic families. A 27-year-old young man doesn’t even know how to write his name, and because of theft, it was his ninth time in detention. Generally, no one in there admits to their crimes; they only acknowledge bad luck. Even thieves and rapists boast about their crimes and learn criminal methods from each other.
These people only know the laws of the state, not the laws of God; they only know the courts of the world, not the eternal judgment. So-called reform can only stop their evil deeds but cannot awaken a person’s heart.
Li Jie said that in detention, everyone claims to be innocent, while those who go to church all admit their “sins,” forming a stark contrast. The church is not perfect, but it is still set apart as holy. Those drifting outside the church are easily harmed; a Christian who loses the church and cannot freely worship God is like a slave to the state.
But he does not hate anyone, for he too is weak and has thought of giving up. He heard that if the case reaches the city procuratorate, he might be sentenced to life imprisonment or even death, and he was very down for a while. But later, God comforted him, and he also believes God will save him. He said people can be weak, but they can’t always be weak unless they are not children of God. Otherwise, God will rescue you from weakness and sin in various ways.
Currently, he can only read official books of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought and Xi Jinping Thought. For him, he can do nothing right now, like being in the wilderness. But the wilderness in the Bible is where the saints encounter God more deeply, as did David, Paul, and even Christ.
He told his wife that freedom is not about where the body is, but about holiness and sin. A truly free person is one who can resist the temptation of sin. Please believe that I am free. Prison is a place to meet God and encounter grace!
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