Pastor Wang Yi is the influential leader of Early Rain Covenant Church in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan province – one of the best-known house churches in China.
He was detained in December 2018 and charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and “illegal business operations”. Pastor Wang Yi was sentenced to nine years in prison at the Intermediate People’s Court of Chengdu City, Sichuan province after a secret trial.
Source: Middle East Concern
Though Chengdu prison officials have stated that Wang Yi is doing well in prison, a secret source says that’s not true.
According to the source, prison authorities are holding Pastor Wang Yi in ‘closed’ imprisonment. He is not allowed to meet or speak with other inmates, except for two criminal offenders who are charged with watching him. Pastor Wang eats and sleeps in the same cell with these two men and guards refer to the group as the “three-person mutual supervision group”.
In addition, Pastor Wang is fed mouldy rice, and when medical treatment is necessary, he is given prison medication, which is expired – inferior drugs that prisons ‘buy back’ from hospitals that cannot use them.
Let us pray.
- Pray for Pastor Wang and his family, that the Lord will strengthen them during this long separation. Pray too for the members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, who are facing significant and consistent government persecution.
- Ask the Lord to refresh Pastor Wang’s spirit and give him the physical strength to cope with his imprisonment.
- Ask God to continue overseeing the growth of His church in China, calling even those who are opposed to religious freedom.
I am praying for you and your family and your church. May the Lord strengthen and encourage you day by day and bring you safely thro
ugh this.
Our Father, you are over all, you are the creator and sustainer of all life, you are also the God of justice and mercy and we cry out to you for your people in China and also for other minority groups suffering severe persecution and life threatening and mind torturing behaviour from the Chinese authorities. We ask for your mercy especially upon Pastor Wang Yi (and his family) the leader of Early Rain Covenant Church in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan province during this time of imprisonment and separation from his family. Strengthen them during this time of adversity and trial. Blessed Lord Jesus help your servants to hold onto you and call upon you.
Psalm 17 says it well,
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Saviour of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
May this be the experience and the prayer of your people.
We pray too for the members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, who are facing significant and consistent government persecution. Refresh them and Pastor Wang in body and soul (3 John 2) and give them by the power of your mighty Spirit, the strength to cope with all that confronts them. Be pleased Lord Jesus to continue overseeing the growth of your church in China, calling even those who are opposed to religious freedom and causing harm to your people. Have mercy, O God, have mercy.
Amen!
I was teary when I read this post about Pastor Wang. Our Almighty Lord will protect this Pastor and God will grant him extraordinary strength to cope with imprisonment. May His Presence grants Pastor the peace and the joy of the Lord shall be his strength.
Dear Lord,
We lift our brother Pastor Wang Yi, to you. We ask that You would attend to his physical, mental and emotional needs. Refresh him and strengthen him Lord, physically and spiritually, in spite of efforts to harm and weaken him. May he stay firmly grounded in the truth of Your Word and promises:
“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
(Isaiah 28-31)
May Pastor Wang Yi be an inspiring witness for Christ to those around him, as You enable him to maintain an attitude of love and grace in the face of evil.
We pray also that You strengthen his family and church family, as they endure through this time of persecution. May they also stand firmly upon Your Truth and cling to Your precious promises.
In the Precious and Powerful Name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.