Pastor Wang Yi has been sentenced to nine years in prison for subversion of power and illegal business operations. Located in Chengdu, China, Wang is the pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church, one of China’s largest unregistered churches. According to a statement for the Intermediate People’s Court of Chengdu, in addition to the nine years in jail, he will also lose his political rights, will have a fine of approximately $7,2000 and his personal assets seized.

In December of 2018, authorities raided the Early Rain Covenant Church’s offices, a kindergarten, a seminary, a Bible college, and searched the homes of many of its members. At that time, Wang was arrested along with his wife, Jiang Rong, and more than 100 members of his congregation. They forced church members to sign a pledge to not attend the church anymore. Jiang was eventually released after six months.

The New York Times noted that Wang had become known for taking high-profile positions on politically sensitive issues, including forced abortions and the massacre that crushed the Tiananmen Square democracy movement in 1989. Ahead of his arrest, he wrote, “I believe this Communist regime’s persecution against the church is a greatly wicked, unlawful action. As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely. The calling that I have received requires me to use non-violent methods to disobey those human laws that disobey the Bible and God. My Savior Christ also requires me to joyfully bear all costs for disobeying wicked laws.

“Those who interrogate me will finally be questioned and judged by Christ. When I think of this, the Lord fills me with a natural compassion and grief toward those who are attempting to and actively imprisoning me. Pray that the Lord would use me, that He would grant me patience and wisdom, that I might take the Gospel to them.”

Open Doors USA World Watch List ranks China as the 27th worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution. The Chinese Communist Party has increased their efforts to destroy all religious institutions, yet the Church continues to expand under persecution.

PRAY: We must pray for Pastor Wang Yi as he serves his prison sentence. Pray that he can withstand all that he will face and pray that he will be able to lead others to Christ. We must also pray for perseverance for our brothers and sisters in China. Pray for the Lord to strengthen them and allow their faith to be a light in such heavy darkness and persecution.

PRAY: As a "message to Christians worldwide," ISIS executed 11 Christian men the day after Christmas. The terrorists released a gruesome video showing one man being shot and 10 others beheaded. For the last two years, there has been an increase in violence against Christians, with an estimated 1,000 killed in 2019 and at least 2,400 in 2018. Open Doors USA's World Watch List ranks Nigeria as the 12th worst nation in the world for Christian persecution. Please pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria!