Update on Gao Zhisheng

It has been a while since I received on update on Gao Zhisheng or his family. The latest one is not encouraging. As we last knew, he was still being held under tight security by the Chinese government, but he did contact his family.

During April 15 and 16, Gao visited his in-laws in Xinjiang and told them that he would be flying to his apartment in Beijing on April 20. He never arrived back home and nobody has seen or heard from him since.

Once again Gao Zhisheng has disappeared and China Aid does not know where he is or how to contact him. Please pray for his safety and for repentance amongst the leaders of China. Pray also for Gao's family, this is a most stressful situation for them.

Update on Gao Zhisheng

Rumors have been flying around since December 2009 that Gao Zhisheng has died from the brutal torture he received at the hands of Chinese police. Recently, Gao's brother, Zhiyi sought and found the police that originally detained Gao. He was told that Gao "went missing while out on a walk".

This is the first time the Chinese government has actually said anything leading to the belief that they no longer have Gao in custody. ChinaAid believes this means Zhisheng's health has taken a turn for the worse.

Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, says ""We have every reason to suspect that the Chinese government has something very serious to hide. Gao's family has every right to know what happened to him. It is unbelievable that a high security prisoner would go missing while 'out on a walk,' without suspecting that there is a major cover up of his condition."

Please pray fro Gao's family. They are under extreme stress because they don't know what has happened to their husband/father/brother. Gao's daughter, Gege became very emotionally upset upon hearing the rumors of his death and had to be placed in a hospital. Pray that the leaders of China will stop persecuting Christians and that they will turn to Christ.

For more updates on the persecuted church, please check out the Persecution Blog.

Day 308: Gao Not Doing Well

In an email update I received about Gao Zhisheng, VOM and ChinaAid say he is not doing well. Quoting from the email: "ChinaAid recently received another report from inside sources in China that Gao Zhisheng has been severely beaten by authorities. The report stated his current living condition is worse than death and that Gao is crying daily in pain and desperation."

China has responded to pressure, but not in a good way. They refuse to release Gao and the Chinese government has also cut off communication with two of Mr. Zhisheng's siblings.

Gao's older brother, Gao Zhiyi, said, "For every question, there are three unknowns. No one knows anything. They won't talk to us and they won't meet with us... Even if Gao Zhisheng had committed a terrible crime, his family would still have the right to know what had happened to him!"

If you have not already done so, please sign the petition at FreeGao.com and ask that they release Gao Zhisheng. This is an awesome way for Christians to ask for the release of a hurting brother. Add your voice to the 117,196 people that are speaking out for Gao already.

Also, please pray. This is a Christian's greatest "weapon" in this world. Ultimately, we are not struggling against humans, but we are struggling against dark spiritual forces that want to destroy Christians and keep people in bondage.

Day 225: Gao Alive!

I just received an email from VOM, Gao Zhisheng is alive! News was received from the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC that Gao was put on parole in August. ChinaAid has confirmed this, but his condition and whereabouts are unknown.

Thanks to all those who signed the petition requesting Gao Zhisheng's release. Over 110,00 people signed the petition!

Please keep praying for Gao and his family. Ask the Lord to do a mighty work through this man. Pray that physical, emotional, and spiritual healing would come from God.

Take It Away!

It's day 168 after Gao Zhisheng's kidnapping and ChinaAid did deliver our petitions (over 10, 000!) to the Chinese Embassy. Sadly, when the embassy staff saw what it was, she said, "I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry! Take it away!"

David E. Taylor, who is the American attorney who tried to deliver the petition, left it at the front door saying, "The Chinese Embassy was legally served with the petition even though they tried to avoid it."

Don't give up, God can do miracles! Keep praying that God Almighty will move on the hearts of the Chinese officials. Also, pray for Gao and his family, that the Lord will provide for their every need.

Raid on Christian Youth Camp

On July 13 at 10:30 AM, police made a raid on a Christian Youth camp in Tengzhou city, Shandong province. 28 Christian youth and 4 adult workers were arrested. The police then threatened and beat the youth. also, five of the people who organized the camp are still being held in prison for another 5-15 days.

China Aid reports that the youth are still in shock, so please pray that they will recover quickly.

For more stories like this, please check out the Persecution Blog.

ChinaAid Delivers Petitions to Free Gao

Keep On Praying for Gao Zhisheng and Sign the Petition!

Over the last several months, I have blogged about Gao Zhisheng twice. The second time, I asked that you sign a petition asking the Chinese government to release him. If you have not signed the petition, I would encourage you to do so.

Please go to freegao.com and add your signature along with thousands of other people.

Pray for Gao Zhisheng

Please pray for Gao Zhisheng. He is part of ChinaAid's Legal Defense Team and was kidnapped on February 4. This is not the first time this has happened and Mr. Zhisheng has endured horrible torture in the past. (To read more of his story, click here)

The Chinese government has been trying to silence Gao Zhisheng (who is a former Chinese Communist Party member) since 2005. Recently he even wrote an open letter to members of the US congress describing some of the tortures he has been subjected to, which is just part of his out spoken help to the underground Christians in China.

Pray that Gao will be able to stand in the strength of the Lord and not cave into the pressure put on him by the Chinese government. Seek the Lord for him and ask the he be more than a conqueror in this situation.

Lanlan's Father

Lanlan is a young Chinese girl who will spend this Christmas without her father.
Her dad, Pastor Lou Yuanqi is in the midst of a trial which started just days
ago. This is the fourth time he has been imprisoned for his faith. From
information ChinaAid has received, his sentence will likely be severe.

Lanlan, along with her mother, brother, and sister, wait at home for the verdict.

At sixteen, Lanlan has already payed a price for her faith. Chinese police arrested her and ten other children and kept them outside in the cold, walled-in courtyard of the police station without even a coat to keep them warm.

(Quote taken from ChinaAid email)