Photo: Pastor John Cao (ChinaAid source)
(ChinaAid—January 13, 2023) Pastor John Cao wrote a new poem in November 2022. ChinaAid received and translated the new untitled piece.
John Cao
Before his arrest in 2017, Pastor John Cao built bible schools for minority children in Myanmar. The Chinese government became aware of not only his activity but allowed him to continue for three years. Even though he used legitimate visas and passports, authorities intercepted him crossing back into China and arrested him for “organizing illegal border crossings.” Cao currently serves a harsh seven-year sentence.
Updates for the outside world
He writes often in prison and meets with his mother, who travels 800 miles to visit her son virtually. COVID policies prevented some of her visits, namely in March and May 2022. Now, it is unclear if his health was affected during the recent wave of COVID-19 spreading rapidly in Yunnan province.
New Poem
In November 2022, John Cao wrote a new poem focused on Hebrews 13:3. His mother copied it and sent it to ChinaAid to encourage fellow believers. Read his full, translated poem below:
How humble is He who descended from heaven and came to earth
Coming to the world by
Bare feet, No house or horse
Seeking after people to save from the lowest to the highest
And rescuing the world by
Sowing Love everywhere.
ChinaAid compiled a collection of Pastor John Cao’s poetry in 2021, entitled Living Lyrics.