Members of China’s Demolished Church Stand Trial for ‘Fraud’

UCANews ^ | 4/5/23

[marshmallow]

Before it was demolished with explosives in 2018, the Golden Lampstand Church was one of the largest churches in China

The Golden Lampstand Evangelical Church is being demolished with explosives in Linfen City of China's Shanxi province in January 2018. The church's leaders and members are facing trial for alleged fraud. (Photo: ChinaAid)

A court in a northern province of China held a public trial over the alleged fraud of leaders and members of an evangelical mega-church that was demolished by the authorities in 2018, says a rights group.

The court in Linfen city of Shanxi Province had a public hearing on the alleged fraud case on March 29, ChinaAid reported on April 4.

The accused include Yang Rongli, an Evangelist and leader of Golden Lampstand Church, pastor Wang Xiaoguang and his wife, and 10 members of the church.

It is still unknown whether the court convicted the defendants or verdict was delivered against them.

Ahead of the trial, Rongli’s brother, Yang Kai, issued three requests for prayer for the defendants.

He appealed to all to pray so the Lord gives the accused “strength to be witnesses for the Lord” and for more than 10 lawyers who are defending the accused so they can have the “discernment, wisdom, and the ability for the team to act as one person.”

He also invited brothers, sisters, and people from all walks of life to participate in the public trial “to witness together the fairness, openness, and just embodiment of the law.”

The trial of leaders and members is the latest in a series of crackdowns on the church since it was constructed in 2009. It was one of the largest churches in China, media reports say.

The church was built at an estimated cost of US$ 2.6 million and its........

[BobL]

‘Members of China’s Demolished Church Stand Trial for ‘Fraud’”

Damn! Almost as bad as Ukraine.

[rovenstinez]

DRIVE them underground. I bet they thrive.

[marron]

Its funny. Only a few years ago the church had emerged from the shadows, and it was reported to be something like 100 million people. Worshipping opernly. A lot of entrepreneurs were relocating to China, a lot of young people looking for adventure, starting businesses, or working for Chinese companies doing whatever they could find. Of course we know, a lot of big business too, were finding they were more free to operate there than, say, California for instance. China was starting to be *the* place to be.

Then its like Beijing flipped a switch, its like they got a look at what they could be, and it scared them. They brought in the social credit system, they started bulldozing churches, arresting pastors. And the young entrepreneurs started scattering to Viet Nam, for instance. Its like night and day.

[stinkerpot65]

Democrats will do the same here.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

I’m sure the Bidens asked for clemency for them, for a fee.