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| Zhao Xiping |
China Aid Association
(Nanle County, Henan—Jan. 27, 2014) Three (corrected Feb. 14) Nanle County Christian church members were released from detainment after more than two months and another was allowed to meet with a lawyer for the first time in China’s central Henan province over the weekend; however, Pastor Zhang Shaojie is still scheduled to participate in a criminal hearing, the date of which has changed.
On Friday, Ms. Zhao Xiping, Ms. Yang Miling and Ms. Sheyin Duanmu were released from prison. At this time, the conditions of their release are unknown.
Additionally, Zhao Junling, an associate pastor at the Nanle County Christian Church, was allowed to meet with his lawyer, Zhang Weiyu on Saturday.
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| Zhao Junling |
Despite this progress, Pastor Zhang Shaojie is still facing trial (see https://chinaaid.org/2013/11/update-three-self-sanctioned-church.html, https://chinaaid.org/2014/01/believers-from-nanle-county-christian.html, https://chinaaid.org/2014/01/nanle-county-christians-face-threat-of.html and https://chinaaid.org/2014/01/nanle-county-christian-church-pastor.html).
ChinaAid has learned, however, that the pastor’s trial date has been changed from Jan. 28 to Feb. 12. According to the court notice sent to lawyer Liu Weiguo, the delay is because Zhang decided to hire a new defense lawyer.
Weiguo interpreted this information to be in reference to Zhang’s other attorney Zhao Yonglin who submitted his credentials later than Liu.
ChinaAid will continue to monitor the situation and asks for prayers for those still detained, for Pastor Zhang, as his trial begins, and for the rest of the church family who still face pressure from the local government. In addition, pray that God will soften the hearts of those persecuting the Christians and bring them to know Him.