Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. I have news that should both encourage and convict us. After 12 years in a Chinese prison, Pastor Zhang Shaojie is finally free - released last week.
But even as we celebrate his release, we need to understand the broader reality: Faithful Christians continue to be persecuted worldwide, and the persecution in China continues to increase. While the Western church argues about petty church politics and TikTok trends, our brothers and sisters in China are preparing for prison simply for preaching the Gospel.
Chinese Pastor Zhang Shaojie just walked out of prison, this week, after more than a decade behind bars—imprisoned on charges believers say were nothing but a political hit-job to silence the Gospel and seize church land.
He was locked up in 2013. In 2014, he was convicted of "disrupting public order" and "fraud." But here's the translation of what really happened: He refused to bow to the government and give up the land meant for a new church building.
Think about that. A pastor spent 12 years in prison—years stolen from his life, from his family, from his ministry—simply because he wouldn't surrender to government control of his church. This wasn't about actual fraud or public disorder. This was about the Chinese Communist Party's determination to control every aspect of religious life in China.
Today, as Pastor Zhang steps into freedom during Thanksgiving week here in America, he says it was only global prayer that kept him alive. Listen to his own words: "Without it, I might not be here and could have been forcibly disappeared."
Forcibly disappeared. That's what happens to Christians in China who become too troublesome for the government. They vanish. No trial. No announcement. Just gone.
But Pastor Zhang survived because believers around the world prayed. His 84-year-old mother, who prayed every single day for 12 years, was waiting to embrace him when he walked out of prison. Twelve years of daily prayer. Twelve years of faith that God would bring her son home. That's the kind of perseverance we need to learn from.
But as the post says, "This is bigger than one man's release. This is a reminder that faithful Christians are STILL being persecuted worldwide—while the West argues about petty church politics and TikTok trends."
That statement should convict us. What are we focused on? What consumes our attention as the Western church? Church buildings, worship styles, comfort, preferences, cultural relevance, social media presence. Meanwhile, Christians in China are being arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and killed simply for gathering to worship Jesus.
And here's what many people don't know: Persecution in China is actually increasing, not decreasing. When someone becomes a Christian in China today, especially if they become a pastor or church leader, they actually prepare for a prison sentence. It's not a question of "if" but "when."
Let me give you some context. China has the largest population of Christians of any communist country—estimates range from 80 to 130 million believers. That's more Christians than in most Western nations!
But since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, persecution has intensified dramatically. The government has implemented increasingly restrictive policies:
- Churches are being demolished or their crosses removed
- Pastors are being arrested at an alarming rate
- House churches are being raided and shut down
- Christians are being forced to renounce their faith or lose jobs, education opportunities, and social credit scores
- Children under 18 are banned from attending church
- The Bible has been edited by the government to include Communist Party propaganda
- Surveillance technology tracks believers and identifies those attending "illegal" religious gatherings
According to Open Doors, which tracks Christian persecution worldwide, China ranks #19 on the World Watch List of countries where it's most dangerous to be a Christian. That's up from #43 just a few years ago. The persecution is getting worse, not better.
Here's what's both heartbreaking and inspiring: When someone in China decides to become a pastor or church leader, they prepare for prison. They prepare their families. They make arrangements for who will care for their children. They write farewell letters.
Can you imagine? In America, when someone enters ministry, they prepare for seminary, for ordination, for church planting. In China, they prepare for arrest.
Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu wrote a declaration titled "My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience" before his arrest in 2018. He's still imprisoned today. In it, he wrote: "I firmly believe that Christ has called me to carry out the faithful disobedience through a life in which I renounce my rights... As a pastor of a Christian church, I must lead my church to address the realities of a government that deceives the people, rather than ignore them."
He knew he would be arrested. He prepared for it. And he went ahead anyway because faithfulness to Christ was more important than freedom.
Pastor Zhang's release is wonderful news, but the arrests continue. Just in recent months:
- Multiple pastors have been arrested for "illegal religious activities"
- House church networks have been infiltrated and dismantled
- Christians have been sentenced to years in prison for printing Bibles or Christian literature
- Believers have been detained for sharing the Gospel online
The Chinese government views Christianity as a threat to Communist Party control. Any church that refuses to register with the government-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement is considered illegal. And even registered churches face increasing restrictions on what they can preach, who can attend, and what activities they can conduct.
So why should this matter to us in the West? Several reasons:
First, because they are our brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:3 says, "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
When Pastor Zhang suffered in prison, we should have felt it. When Chinese believers are arrested, we should grieve. When they're tortured, we should weep. We are one body. Their pain is our pain.
Second, because our prayers make a difference. Pastor Zhang himself said global prayer kept him alive. Our intercession matters! God hears our prayers for persecuted believers and responds.
Third, because persecution is coming to the West. What starts in China doesn't stay in China. The surveillance technology being used there is spreading. The social credit systems that punish Christians are being considered elsewhere. The restrictions on religious freedom are creeping into Western nations. Just look at the UK to see how restrictions have increased!
If we don't stand with persecuted Christians now, who will stand with us when persecution comes here?
Fourth, because it exposes our comfort and complacency. As the post says, some will celebrate Pastor Zhang's release. Others will pretend persecution isn't real. Either way, God just showed the world He still breaks chains.
But are we paying attention? Or are we too busy with trivial things?
So how should we respond? Let me give you specific actions:
First, pray regularly for the persecuted church. Pray for Chinese believers by name when possible. Pray for Pastor Wang Yi, still imprisoned.
Second, stay informed. Through this podcast I will do my best to keep you informed.
Third, support ministries serving the persecuted church. Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, China Aid, and others provide Bibles, support families of imprisoned believers, and advocate for religious freedom.
Fourth, write letters and advocate. Contact your elected representatives and urge them to pressure China on religious freedom. Some governments listen when constituents speak up.
Fifth, prepare yourself spiritually. If persecution is coming to the West, are you ready? Would you stand firm like Pastor Zhang if faced with the choice between freedom and faithfulness? Start strengthening your faith now.
Sixth, share these stories. Don't let the persecuted church be forgotten. Share on social media. Tell your church. Let people know what's happening.
Let me close with a challenging question: What would you do if becoming a Christian meant preparing for prison? What if following Jesus meant losing your job, your education, your freedom? What if serving as a pastor meant 12 years behind bars?
Would you still follow Jesus? Would you still serve? Would you still refuse to bow?
Pastor Zhang did. Pastor Wang Yi did. Thousands of Chinese believers are doing it right now. They've counted the cost and decided Jesus is worth it.
The question is: Have we?
Let me pray: Dear Lord Jesus, we know that Your Holy Spirit walks into each prison cell with each brother or sister arrested for faith in You. May our prayers also accompany them! Thank You for the release of Pastor Zhang! Help him recover after 12 years in a Chinese prion. May his testimony touch many lives. Please be with Pastor Wang Yi and the many Christians imprisoned in China right now. Bring them Your comfort, strength, and wisdom and may their time in prison produce much fruit for Your Kingdom. Please speak to us about coming persecution. Help us learn to be strong in you so that when persecution comes to us, and the Bible says it eventually will, may we stand. We love you! Continue to guide Your Church! In Your name, Lord Jesus, amen.
Thank you for joining me today. Don't forget Pastor Zhang or the millions of persecuted believers worldwide.
Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations, and pray for those who suffer for Jesus's name!
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