On November 26, 2023, approximately 320 devices of brothers and sisters joined online for the “China 5 P.M.” Kingdom Prayer Meeting. Two special prayer requests were made on that day:
- Prayer for Yunan Zhenxiong Chang Hao
Prayer request: “After being returned for further investigation twice, Chang Hao has been prosecuted by the prosecutor’s office to the Zhenxiong County People’s Court for the crime of ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’. The prosecutor’s office accuses him of ‘repeatedly publishing and forwarding false information and inappropriate remarks on the internet, causing serious public disorder and having a negative social impact’. However, Chang Hao does not accept the accusations of the public security organs and the prosecutor’s office, and insists on not admitting guilt. At home, he often said that citizens have the freedom of speech and the right to criticize and make suggestions to any state organ or state functionary. Since being taken away by the public security on April 14 this year, Chang Hao has lost his freedom for more than 7 months. The twelfth day of the tenth lunar month is Chang Hao’s birthday, and he is about to celebrate his 45th birthday in the detention center. Chang Hao has a second-level physical disability, and his wife Yao Fazhen also has poor health, suffering from hyperthyroidism and lumbar disc herniation, with doctors recommending her to seek treatment in a major hospital in Kunming as soon as possible. Chang Hao’s mother is already 86 years old, with poor legs and feet, needing care. We all hope for Chang Hao’s early return home. We hope that even if the court cannot immediately release Chang Hao without charge, they can first release him on bail pending trial. Thank you for your concern, please continue to pay attention to Chang Hao’s case! We also ask the members of the church to pray for Chang Hao’s health! May he regain his personal freedom as soon as possible! Chang Hao’s family, November 22, 2023”
Lord, may your crown of righteousness preserve brother Chang Hao. You know all about him, and we know only one thing, that he acknowledges you as his Lord, and you are also our Lord. This is why we pray for him, because he is our brother and member of the body, steadfast in not denying his faith, which is the crown you have given him, and also an encouragement to us. He is in chains, and you are also with him in the detention center, and we also join him in the China 5 P.M. prayer. Lord, he once prayed with us at 5 P.M., and now we continue to pray for him unceasingly. May you take care of his body, his soul, and his family! Amen!
- Prayer for the Inner Mongolia Wang Honglan Case
Prayer request: “In the first five days of the trial report of the case of Wang Honglan, Ji Heying (Wang Honglan’s husband), Wang Jiale (nephew), Liu Minna (daughter), Liu Wei (Liu Minna’s husband), Zhang Wang, Yang Zhijun, Li Chao, and other nine Christians from Inner Mongolia, have been criminally detained by the Hui District Public Security Branch since April 15, 2021, on suspicion of illegal business operations. Except for Li Chao, who was released on bail after a year of detention, the others have been detained for more than two years and seven months, far exceeding the legal limit. On November 22, 2021, the Hui District Procuratorate transferred the case to the court for prosecution. After two pre-trial meetings (the first one was declared invalid due to the identity issue of the prosecutor), the Hui District Court formally opened the trial of this case on November 20, 2023. It was confirmed that the court had delivered two indictments to all defendants. The defendants received the first indictment, which was soon taken away without reason. Without changing the prosecution, the court illegally delivered the second indictment, changing the ‘subsidy’ for buying Bibles in the case to ‘operating reward’. Before the opening of the court, the public prosecutor (prosecutor) and the defense (lawyer) communicated on the issue of pleading guilty and accepting punishment. The prosecutor’s sentencing recommendation is still over five years, and most of the defendants firmly believe that they have not committed a crime, with no consensus reached between the two parties. Compared to the pre-trial meeting, this court session chose a smaller courtroom, which was very crowded, causing many family members to be unable to attend the trial.”
Lord, from the trial report, it has been many days since the trial began, and there has already been one who denied being a member of the church, denying that he follows You. Lord, we ask for Your mercy, please strengthen the remaining brothers and sisters. We also ask ourselves if we are following You. Strengthen the church in China, that we may be faithful unto death, this is the gospel for which You died, this is the result of the gospel for which we live. We continue to entrust the church in Inner Mongolia to Your gracious hands!
The above prayers are made in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who saved us from our sins. Amen!
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