Most of us struggle to imagine living in a country where a 77-year-old pastor can be arrested and sent to prison simply for leading a Bible study and preaching the Gospel. Yet that is the reality facing believers in parts of China today.
According to ChinaAid, authorities recently sentenced 31 Christians connected to a house church network in Suizhou City, Hubei Province. Among them was Pastor Yang Zhijin, age 77.
On May 21, 2026, Pastor Yang was sentenced to three years and two months in prison and fined 8,000 RMB (approximately $1,180 USD) on charges of “using a cult organization to undermine the implementation of the law.”
Think about that for a moment. Yang is 77-years-old. He was not charged with violence. Yang was not charged with theft. He was not charged with damaging anyone’s property.
Yang has spent his life serving others. He has devoted decades to teaching people about the Bible and helping people follow Jesus Christ. But just like the one he follows that only brought life and hope, he was found to be a criminal. Instead of spending his golden years with his wife and grandchildren, pastor Yang will spend his time in prison.
ChinaAid described the charges against Yang and 30 other believers with the statement that:
All were sentenced in connection with their affiliation with the house church. They were not sentenced for any criminal acts. They were punished for worshiping God, praying together, and reading the Bible.
This forces us to stop and ask hard questions of ourselves. It is easy to speak about faith when it costs us little. It is easy to talk about courage from the comfort of our homes and churches. But what happens when obedience carries a price tag?
Pastor Yang faced that question at 77 years old. He knew the risks. He understood the consequences. Yet he continued to shepherd God’s people anyway.
Pastor Yang has joined a great company of witnesses. When faced with pressure to stop preaching, he refused to buckle.
