Women of the South China Church

Arrested. In recent years the most horrendous case of Christian persecution in China has centered on the Hubei-based South China Church. Founded in 1991 by Pastor Gong Shengliang, the 50,000 member SCC had fellowships in at least seven provinces. In addition, the SCC published 30 editions of a magazine called "Salvation and China," edited by Pastor Gongs niece, Li Ying. In April 2001, the government banned the SCC as a ''heretical organization,'' and between May and December dozens of men and women were arrested and tortured, including Pastor Gong and Li Ying. 

Tortured. In July, Yu Zhongju, a young Hubei mother, died of torture, and her family was paid 64,000 ($8,000) to keep quiet. Sometime that fall, the family of Gu Xuegui learned that he also died from torture. At least ten women were physically and sexually abused to extort testimony that they had been raped by Pastor Gong. Three of them, Zhang Hongjuan, Li Tongjin and Yang Tongni, described the torture in letters written to their families. Three others, Cao Hongmei, Liu Xianzhi, and Meng Xicun, later gave videotape testimony to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights detailing how they were shackled, whipped, kicked, and beaten with electric shock batons. Ma Yuqin related how, as she was being battered in one room, her son was tortured in the next so that each could hear the other's screams. In all, over 200 SCC leaders were jailed, over 500 full-time evangelists lost their homes and had their property confiscated, and thousands more members were beaten, fined and temporarily detained.

Convicted. Pastor Gong, Li Ying and their 15 co-defendants were tried in secret in December 2001 on charges including rape, assault, and using a heretical organization to undermine the law. The trial court sentenced Pastor Gong, Li Ying and 3 others to death, and the remaining twelve were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two years to life. These initial sentences sparked an outcry from Christian and human rights groups and a massive amount of prayer. In September 2002, as Chinese President Jiang Zemin prepared to visit the U.S., Hubei's highest court threw out the sentences. A new trial took place in October, and Pastor Gong was represented by a prominent attorney, Mo Shaoping. At the new trial, all charges relating to a "heretical organization" were dropped. Pastor Gong, Xu Fuming and Hu Yong received life sentences. Li Ying was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Charges were dismissed against four other women, but when they announced plans to file a lawsuit against their torturers, they were re-arrested within hours and sent without trial for three years of hard labor.

Imprisoned. Since his conviction, Pastor Gong has been beaten regularly and has been allowed little contact with his family. In July 2003 he was transferred to another prison where he is often kept in solitary confinement. At one 10-minute visit in April 2004, Pastor Gong was too weak to walk and had to be carried into the visiting hall by four other inmates. He told his family, If you are able in any way, please transfer me to another prison. Otherwise, just come and pick up my corpse. 

The daily prayer items this month name women from the South China Church. Information on how to contact Pastor Gong, Li Ying, other prisoners, and Chinese authorities can be found at www.chinaaid.org, www.persecution.com or http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170022004.

For resources on the persecuted church, see the list at the end of the calendar.

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