“The church pastored by Chang Hao had over ten new Christians who needed baptism,” says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley. “Out of respect for church tradition, Chang Hao, considering himself a jundosa and not yet ordained as a pastor, believed the baptism ceremony should be conducted by an ordained pastor. So he invited Pastor John Cao to perform the baptism for these new believers.” Representative Foley says that on October 15, Pastor John Cao explained Acts 2:28 to thirteen new believers and baptized them. Thirty church members also attended the gathering. Since the meeting was held on a Tuesday morning, most attendees were elderly, with an average age over 70. 

“Just as Chang Hao announced the end of the baptism service, over twenty police officers burst into the meeting place, shouting: ‘Don’t move! Hand over your phones!’” says Representative Foley. “They then searched everyone’s pockets. When some elderly people were slightly slow to respond, the police shouted at them. An 89-year-old sister told them, ‘We are Christians having a peaceful gathering. We haven’t broken any laws.’ But before she could finish, the police yelled at her.” 

Subsequently, the police took all attendees to the Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau. Witnesses say that as each believer walked towards the police vehicles, they were flanked by officers to prevent communication. There were over ten police cars and several special police vans. 

“At the police station, these elderly and frail believers were left in a corner. From morning until night, only after repeated requests were they provided with a cup of water and a piece of bread,” says Representative Foley. “It was difficult for them to endure such physical hardship.” 

Around midnight, after completing their statements, the elderly believers were released one by one. Witnesses say that the main focus of the questioning was on two points: who informed them about the gathering, and who preached and performed the baptisms. Pastor John Cao was released at midnight after completing his statement, while Chang Hao Jundosanim was given a 12-day punishment for illegal religious gathering. 

Meanwhile, the police destroyed the meeting place, smashing the projector and confiscating the church’s Bible and other equipment. 

Police from Changsha Public Security Bureau escorted Pastor John Cao back to Changsha. 

Pastor John Cao was previously charged by the Chinese authorities with the crime of “organizing others to illegally cross the border” and sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2018 for preaching, establishing schools, and benefiting more than 2000 local students in poverty-stricken areas along the China Myanmar border. He was released from prison in March 2024. 

This was Chang Hao Jundosanim’s twentieth-plus administrative detention, each time for the same reason: illegal evangelism. 

“In his early years, Chang Hao’s hands were severely burned in a factory fire, leaving him unable to hold objects. He is recognized as a person with disabilities by the state,” says Representative Foley. “The Zhenxiong Public Security Bureau not only violates religious freedom but also cruelly denies Chang Hao Jundosanim any opportunity to make a living.” 

Individuals interested in donating to Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s work in partnership with the house church Christians of China can visit www.vomkorea.com/en/donation or give via electronic transfer to: 

KB Bank: 463501-01-243303 

Account Holder: (사)순교자의소리 

Please note “China” on the transfer