On 19 March house church pastor Geng Zejun was released from prison in Ningxia Autonomous Region in northern China after completing his 15-month sentence. Preacher Geng was emotional as he was greeted by his wife and son as well as Christians from various churches as he walked out of Dawukou Detention Center in Shizuishan City at around 9am.
Background
Pastor Geng was arrested on 5 December 2021 when police and other officials raided a gathering held by the Church of the Rock (also known as Panshi Church) in a remote house. He was placed in administrative detention for 15 days for “disrupting social order” and his wife Hao Ying and five other Christians were detained for ten days and released on bail pending trial.
Two weeks after his release, police summoned Preacher Geng again on 4 January 2022 and detained him on suspicion of “organising illegal gatherings”. He was formally arrested on 25 January 2022 and after a trial in July, he was given a fifteen-month prison sentence. He remained in prison until 19 March 2023.
Time in prison
Preacher Geng’s family had no contact him during his time in prison as the detention centre refused family visits, initially based on pandemic regulations and later in the name of “laws”. While he was in prison Preacher Geng contracted and recovered from COVID-19 and lost more than 10 kilograms. He was respected and popular in the detention centre, where he was referred to as “Pastor Geng” and fellow inmates came to him seeking advice on various matters. According to his wife Preacher Geng greatly missed his son while he was in prison.
Following his release Hao Ying thanked everyone for their concern for her husband on social media, writing:
“Brother Geng was sent out at around 9:00 today. Church brothers and sisters from many different places came and waited at the gate of the detention centre. We embraced each other with tears in our eyes, greeted each other in the Lord, and were deeply inspired by the Lord’s Spirit ~ Thanks be to God for this. His servant has returned in glory! Full of grace, full of blessings.
Who can stop the glory of God? Today believers and unbelievers together picked up Preacher Geng and brought him home.
Thank you all for your constant care and concern. May God remember you and keep you. Please continue to pray for God’s blessing on each other.”
(China Aid)