The three Christians were tried for alleged financial misconduct, specifically on fraud charges tied to their roles in the Linfen-based church. Li and Han each received sentences of three years and eight months. Wang was given a shorter term of one year and eleven months, which he had already served by the time of sentencing.

Detentions Begin During 2022 Religious Retreat

Legal proceedings began in August 2022 when Li Jie and Han Xiaodong were detained during a church retreat. Wang Qiang was later arrested in November of that year under similar accusations. Authorities claimed the group had formed a “criminal clique” and were collecting unauthorized income based on church offerings.

By June 2023, formal charges were filed against the three men. However, their trial would not commence until nearly two years later, on May 8, 2025. Leading up to the proceedings, they had been held in pre-trial detention and under restrictive legal supervision.

The trial took place under heavy security. According to reports, family members of the accused, including Pastor Li’s wife, mother, and children, were prevented from attending and forcibly removed from the area. Observers said only selected individuals were allowed into the courtroom.

Defense Lawyers Allegedly Misled on Sentencing Terms

Legal representatives of the defendants were reportedly told that Li and Han would face sentences of no more than three years if they complied with strict court-imposed conditions—including surrendering their electronic devices. These verbal assurances, however, were not honored by judicial authorities.

Elder Wang Qiang had spent much of his detention under a measure in China called “Residential Surveillance in a Designated Location,” a form of isolated, pre-trial confinement. He was eventually released on bail in March 2025, several months before the final judgment.

In a statement translated by advocacy group China Aid, Linfen Covenant Home Church said it refused to accept the outcome of the trial. While acknowledging the harsh result, church leaders framed the arrests and convictions as suffering for their religious convictions.

Church Defends Offerings as Biblically Motivated

“Our brothers did not commit fraud, and the offerings of our church are not fraud,” the church said. It reaffirmed its identity as a house church that follows biblical principles and maintains a separation between religion and state authority. Church leaders said they accepted the judgment as part of enduring faith trials.

Human rights groups quickly denounced the court’s handling of the case. Mervyn Thomas, president of the organization CSW, said the proceedings highlighted how government authorities can manipulate China’s legal system to target religious groups. He warned that such methods raise serious concerns about transparency and justice.

Thomas added that the lack of access for families and the opaque procedures reinforced doubts about whether legal standards had been upheld. He pointed out that the greater judicial environment in China often allows for procedural complications to be used against defendants with limited recourse.

Additional Church Sentencings Expand Religious Crackdown

The same day as the Linfen leaders’ sentencing, another unregistered church in the city, the Golden Lampstand Church, saw ten of its leaders receive prison terms ranging from nine years to over nine years. Their arrests date back to 2021, and sentencing followed an April 2025 court appearance.

This series of convictions forms part of an escalating government strategy against unapproved religious activity. In December 2024, a group of rights lawyers and religious activists issued a public objection to the criminalization of religious donations, such as tithes.

China officially recognizes five religions, including Protestant Christianity, but limits public religious practice to state-sanctioned religious bodies. Unregistered “house churches” like Linfen Covenant Home Church are frequently targeted for alleged noncompliance with religious management rules.

Foreign Missionary Restrictions Add to Pressure

Additional pressure on religious communities came with changes implemented by the Chinese Communist Party on May 1, 2025. These newly enacted regulations prohibit foreign missionaries from leading religious events, founding religious organizations, or distributing faith-based materials without official approval.

The rules also place strict controls on the content of sermons by overseas clergy, requiring prior clearance for sermons and restricting donations from foreign religious organizations. The policy aims to limit outside influence on Chinese religious life.

Religious freedom advocates view these moves as part of a broader plan to restrict non-state-controlled religious practices and enforce ideological conformity. For groups like Linfen Covenant Home Church, these developments underline the increasingly difficult circumstances under which they operate.