On 18 February 2022, Pastor Hao Zhiwei wrote a letter from prison to her older son Paul, telling him that she has God’s peace and sleeps well in jail.

Pastor Hao (51) of Egangqiao Church in Ezhou city, Hubei province, has been in detention in China since July 2019. She was charged with “fraud” for collecting tithes and offerings from her house church members and spent two and a half years in detention before she was sentenced to eight years in prison in February 2022.

In her letter, which was in reply to one from Paul, Pastor Hao told him that her two-year-and-seven-month imprisonment had made her grow a lot. She admitted she did not sleep on the night of 11 February, when she was sentenced, but said she prayed and now sleeps well. “God’s peace amazingly descended on me”, she wrote.

Pastor Hao’s husband Zhang Youwu died of liver cancer in 2018. Following the pastor’s imprisonment, Paul cared for his younger brother Moses until he went away to university in 2020, leaving Moses at home in the care of a domestic helper and some women from the church. Moses became severely depressed and dropped out of school, but Paul recently returned home for the winter break and talked with Moses, who agreed to go back to school.

Pastor Hao’s letter to her son 

 Paul,

Peace to you.

This is the first time mom has received your letter, I am beyond happy.

Seeing you grow in good health; I am deeply grateful. God is faithful, He is watching over and pastoring you.

Let’s pray together in one heart and mind for your brother, we will certainly see a miracle.

Missing your growth is painful to me as well. I hope that you would persist in diary-writing. Once we reunite, you can share it with me. I especially like to read your stories regarding your growth.

For these two years and seven months, I have also grown a lot! I had never played Sudoku before, but during my time here, I have become a master. There is nearly not one that I can’t do! I hope you can practice early so we can have a competition once we reunite.

Do not worry too much about me. My cell mate received her sentence on the 10th: 12 years. Today is the 18th, and she has not been able to sleep. Once I received my first indictment on the 11th, I only had trouble sleeping the first night. I was praying about it and was able to sleep well since then. God’s peace amazingly descended on me.

Wishing you an early happy 19th birthday!

Mom who loves you forever

February 18, 2022

Paul’s letter

Paul wrote a letter to his mother on 11 February 2022, after learning of her sentence, in which he said:

“Today, that is February 11 around noon, I learned of your news. I don’t know how to express my feelings right now. It is very complicated. I haven’t told Moses about this, since I want him to attend school without worries. Whatever the result, I believe God is using this to temper our hearts. 

“I grew up a lot while you were in prison. I am no longer a shy and timid boy. Now I can handle many things on my own. I conquered countless problems with God’s help. I took the College Entrance Exam and was enrolled in college. My college is full of God’s grace. I get along with my classmates. I am really thankful for God.”

Read Hao Zhiwei’s Prisoner Profile.

(China Aid, International Christian Concern)