Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer who was formally arrested on September 21 (click here for more details), was found guilty of "inciting subversion" on December 12 by a People's Court in Beijing. The conviction followed a sudden and unexpected guilty plea. The credibility of the guilty plea is questionable, however, since neither his lawyers nor his family members were informed that he was on trial until the proceedings were finished. At last report, his lawyers have been unable to visit him. Pray for the truth to come out and for this verdict to be overturned.
Gao Zhisheng Found Guilty
- Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.
Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
- Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)Government type
Communist party-led stateLegal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systemsSources: CIA World Factbook
- Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.