February 1 – This week, we’ll pray for imprisoned Christians in Fuyang. Sister X is the wife of Pastor Z, who was arrested in 2025. She shared: “Our church has been made a ‘model case’ by the authorities. Since 2021, when they first shut us down, the pressure has continued—my kids get nervous when someone knocks, and there’s still a surveillance camera right outside our door.“ Pray that God would protect Sister C’s family and church, calm the children’s fears, and sustain their faith and unity under ongoing pressure and surveillance.
February 2 – Sister X shared that many believers were targeted and forced to move—police pressured landlords to push tenants out. Even after they moved, they were tracked down and driven out again. She also said authorities used jobs as leverage, forcing someone to rewrite a “statement” again and again. Pray that God would provide stable housing, safety, and practical protection for these believers, and strengthen them with wisdom and courage as they face eviction and workplace pressure.
February 3 – Sister X says, “For the past year or two, we’ve met in three small groups. After the case happened, we moved fully online for worship, and our lawyer advised us to avoid meeting in person for now while the case is still with the procuratorate.” Pray that God would protect and shepherd the church, keep them united online and in small groups, and give them wisdom to meet faithfully while the case is unresolved.
February 4 – After Pastor Z was arrested, the brothers and sisters became deeply worried—some even dreamed that Pastor Z was suffering. The church has since begun an evening prayer meeting to continually pray for the shepherds and for the church. Pray that God would comfort the church after Pastor Z’s arrest, and use the prayer meetings to strengthen faith, unity, and trust in Him.
February 5 – Sister X shares that Pastor Z’s health is surprisingly good, and God has used this time to heal him. Even in these circumstances, Pastor Z is showing Christ’s love by caring for his cellmates and sharing the gospel, and many are responding as they see the power of faith. Please pray for Pastor Z’s continued healing and strength, that he would keep showing Christ’s love and sharing the gospel, and that many would respond in faith.
February 6 – Sister X shared, “For our church, the biggest impact is actually our school. The authorities have been closely monitoring us and have been pressuring families to send their children to public school, so our children can only continue learning through online classes. Staffing has also been very difficult, and some salaries still haven’t been paid.” Please pray for God’s protection over the school, strength for families, provision for staffing and salaries.
February 7 – Sister X shared that much of the shepherding burden is now carried by the deacons, and one elder (Brother H) has been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression and is temporarily unable to serve. Pray that God would strengthen and sustain the deacons, bring healing and restoration to Brother H, and raise up more brothers to respond to God’s calling and share the ministry load.
2月1日 — 本周我们为阜阳被囚的基督徒祷告。X 姐妹是 Z 牧师的妻子，Z 牧师于 2025 年被捕。她分享说：“我们的教会被当局作为‘典型案例’来处理。自从 2021 年他们第一次取缔我们以来，压力一直持续——有人敲门时孩子就会紧张，而且我们家门外至今还有监控摄像头。”请为 X 姐妹的家庭和教会祷告，求神保守看顾，使孩子的惧怕得安慰，也在持续的压力和监控中坚固他们的信心与合一。
2月2日 — X 姐妹分享，许多信徒被针对、被迫搬家——警方施压房东赶走租户。即便搬走了，仍会被追踪到、再次被赶走。她也提到，当局以工作为筹码，逼迫有人一遍又一遍地重写“声明”。请祷告求神为这些信徒预备稳定的住处，赐下安全与实际的保护；也赐他们智慧与勇气，在面对驱赶与职场压力时仍能站立得稳。
2月3日 — X 姐妹说：“过去一两年，我们分成三个小组聚会。案子发生后，我们完全转到线上敬拜；律师也建议，在案件仍在检察院阶段时，暂时避免线下聚会。”请祷告求神保守并牧养教会，使他们在线上与小组中仍然合一；也赐下智慧，使他们在案件尚未了结时，仍能忠心、稳妥地聚会跟随主。
2月4日 — Z 牧师被捕后，弟兄姊妹非常担忧——有人甚至梦见 Z 牧师在受苦。后来教会开始了晚间祷告会，持续为牧者与教会祷告。请为教会祷告，求神在 Z 牧师被捕后安慰众人；也使用祷告会来坚固信心、带来合一，并加深众人对神的信靠。
2月5日 — X 姐妹分享，Z 牧师的身体状况出乎意料地好，神也借着这段时间医治他。即使在这样的处境中，Z 牧师仍以关怀狱友、分享福音来彰显基督的爱，许多人看见信仰的力量并有所回应。请为 Z 牧师持续的医治与力量祷告，求主使他继续活出基督的爱并传讲福音，也使更多人凭信心回应。
2月6日 — X 姐妹分享：“对我们教会来说，影响最大的其实是学校。当局一直密切关注我们，并施压家庭把孩子送去公立学校，所以我们的孩子只能通过线上课程继续学习。师资也很困难，还有一些薪资至今未能发放。”请为学校祷告，求神保守遮盖；也为家庭祷告，求主赐力量；并求神供应师资与所需经费，使薪资得以补发、事工得以维持。
2月7日 — X 姐妹分享，目前牧养的重担主要由执事承担；一位长老（H 弟兄）被诊断为严重焦虑与抑郁，暂时无法服事。请为执事们祷告，求神坚固并托住他们；也求神医治并恢复 H 弟兄；并求主兴起更多弟兄回应神的呼召，愿意分担服事的担子，同心建造教会。
Editor’s note: This January and February, we are spending a few months praying for the persecuted church in China. In this interview, a Chinese pastor shares how he experienced God’s grace and mercy through his years in jail, and how God blessed him through his persecution.
Connection in Persecution
China Partnership: Tell us about the situation for house churches in your city. What kind of persecution and pressure are you facing right now?
Preacher Du: In our city, we connect with about a dozen churches. Before this recent wave of persecution, we were already connected with churches in our district. We had started a gospel center, and had a church network for prayer and mutual support. We’d meet with others to study Scripture and pray.
After this crackdown and persecution – after I got out of prison – I was struck by how crucial this is. I reflected and prayed a lot while I was in prison. The more persecution there is, the more vital it is for believers to be connected in Christ.
For example, right now we know of an area church that is being persecuted. Unfortunately, they hadn’t connected with other churches in normal times. We wanted to visit and care for them when we heard about their situation, but we had to way to reach them. We couldn’t even go to see them.
After I got out, I talked to another sister and we agreed that we really need to rebuild this local prayer network. When I came out, one of the first things I wanted to do was to re-establish a united prayer fellowship. We’ve re-started the group, and now we have about seven or eight churches that participate regularly.
As for my own local church, my case was officially closed when I got out of prison last spring after two years. We have heard rumors of pressure and persecution for other churches in our area. For example, one church has faced a lot of “hidden” pressure and disruptions. The upshot is that they can no longer meet at their original location, so they’ve had to scatter and rent new places.
We also just heard that another local church was raided, and their preacher and deacons were arrested. They’ve already been detained a couple months. The main pressure we face right now in matters of faith comes from political pressure. But besides politics, there’s also internal pressure – stress over things like models of church governance, church structures, and instability among co-workers. Some preachers or church leaders have left the country for various reasons. Other things also happen, and the church can become unstable. We’ve connected with about a dozen churches that are all working to support one another, but there are others who are not connected.
A Refining Period
CP: What impact has the persecution had on you, your family, and your church?
Preacher Du: Our persecution was a political crackdown, specifically targeting our church. The real reason was Christian education. Our church began Christian education more than 15 years ago, and they’ve been watching us closely. Even before this, there were periodic raids and disruptions. Some years ago they raided and intimidated us with assault rifles! Their goal is to stop us from doing education, or, if we insist, to break us apart.
For me personally, this has been an important trial for my life, my family, and my own spiritual walk. I thought about my family: my parents, and especially my mother, whose health is poor. If I was in prison that long, I feared I might never see my parents again. We also had a teenager at home
The two years I spent in jail were a refining and training period. In a way, God gave me a time of rest. I had been serving for 10 years without truly resting, but inside, God gave me an opportunity to rest.
Also, right before the case, I was about to be ordained. When the case began, that didn’t happen. Looking back, I realized that God gave me a special grace, one last class, a training in suffering. After I came out of prison, the church quickly arranged the ordination.
They told me, “You’ve completed the course.”
I’m grateful that God trained me through this. During those two years, I came to know myself – especially my weaknesses – more deeply. I had been a believer for many years, and a full-time preacher for 10. But when you go through a trial like this, you realize how weak you are.
God’s Grace in Uncertainty
The uncertainty the first year was brutal. The case dragged on and on. We didn’t go to court until I’d already been detained for more than a year. That season was extremely hard, because you don’t know how long they’ll sentence you. I experienced a lot of weakness. My emotions would swing from discouragement, to sadness, to worries about my family. My faith life went through peaks and valleys, and I kept wrestling with God in prayer.
I became convinced that, although they might want to destroy me in sentencing me to that long, if God didn’t permit it, they could not do it. In the end, God is the One who rules. And, if God truly were to have me endure five to seven years, he would give me the grace and strength to endure it.
At first, I prayed hard that this would only be 30 days in prison. God didn’t answer that prayer, and I realized that God wanted me to accept something long-term, not short-term. I said, “Lord, if it’s one year, I can probably endure it. Even better if it’s six months.” I kept praying: “Please don’t let me suffer too long – I can’t handle it. My family may not be able to bear it, either.”
After more than half a year, we received the indictment. When I saw it, I felt like I collapsed. The description said the charges were “especially serious,” and it was implied that I could be sentenced to five to seven years. I was stunned, almost shattered. I told God, “Lord, this is too big of a joke. I can’t bear it!” I was terrified, and deeply anxious. How could I endure that long?
I thought about my family: my parents, and especially my mother, whose health is poor. If I was in prison that long, I feared I might never see my parents again. We also had a teenager at home; my younger child was just at the brink of adolescence. When I saw the indictment, I was truly afraid, and very distressed. I kept praying, “God, please don’t require me to bear a suffering I can’t handle.”
I struggled like that for several weeks. Later, as I met with my lawyer and remembered God’s word, things began to shift. I especially remembered
1 Cor. 10:13, which says: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
There was no Bible in prison, so all I could do was meditate on whatever Scripture I could still remember from before. I recalled it, and turned it over in my heart.
I became convinced that, although they might want to destroy me in sentencing me to that long, if God didn’t permit it, they could not do it. In the end, God is the One who rules. And, if God truly were to have me endure five to seven years, he would give me the grace and strength to endure it. God would guard and keep my family, too, and enable them to bear it. This brought real comfort and encouragement.
There was no Bible in prison, so all I could do was meditate on whatever Scripture I could still remember from before. I recalled it, and turned it over in my heart. At crucial moments, God’s word comforted me and carried me through the hardest places.
Personally, this experience taught me about my weakness, and God’s power. I truly could not make it on my own. But God has grace and power. He is righteous and sovereign.
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