CHINA: PASTOR WHO PRINTED CHRISTIAN BOOKS WAS TORTURED BY AUTHORITIES DURING INVESTIGATION, BULLIED IN PRISON
According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea, a Christian pastor and his wife in Xi'an, China who were sentenced to seven years in prison for printing Christian books were kidnapped and tortured by authorities. The organization is reporting that the pastor has faced continuous extortion and violence from gangs since his arrival in prison. The wife has been confined to a prison cell in a separate prison, with only brief phone calls with family members twice a year.
Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley is asking Christians to pray for Pastor Chang Yuchun and his wife Li Chenhui, who were arrested in July 2020 for printing Christian books. They were sentenced the following year to seven years’ imprisonment until July 2027 for “illegal business operations” with fines totaling 500,000 yuan (approx. 1억원).
“Pastor Chang Yuchun is serving his sentence in Fuping Prison and Li Chenhui is serving her sentence in Shaanxi Women’s Prison, both in Xi’an,” says Representative Foley. “Their children are living in Beijing with their maternal grandparents, who are 73 years old and quite ill. The two older sons have done a great job advocating for their parents with the authorities. This month they were finally able to get prison officials to move their father to a safer place in prison away from the bullies, and they have also been successful in arranging a visit this month to see their mother, whom they haven’t seen in person since late 2023.”
Representative Foley says that Chang Shengyi, the eldest son of the couple, learned only recently from his father about the torture his parents endured during their investigation by authorities, as well as the bullying his father was experiencing in prison.
“Chang Shengyi and his siblings visited their father in prison earlier this month,” says Representative Foley. “His father, Pastor Chang Yuchun, told them that in July 2020, he and his wife had been taken from their home by the National Security Department and several other government agencies, who placed them under residential surveillance at another location. The agents unlawfully coerced confessions from the couple after severely limiting their food and sleep and preventing them from talking with each other or showering. For 6 days they shined an interrogation light on Pastor Chang 24 hours a day and interrogated him in shifts. Because he would not confess, they would not let him go to the bathroom. When he finally was permitted to use the toilet, he saw that his legs and buttocks were black, and even when he pulled down his pants slowly, a layer of skin was ripped off.”
Representative Foley said that after the official verdict came down, the couple were sent to separate prisons in Xi’an.
“Pastor Chang told his children that since he arrived in prison, he has been the target of bullying by prison gangs who demanded that he pay 4,000 yuan (approx. 800,000 KRW) a month for protection. When Pastor Chang refused to do this, they beat him up, knocking out two of his teeth. Fortunately, when his son complained to prison officials, they agreed to investigate, and they quickly moved Pastor Chang to a safer area in the prison.”
Pastor Chang Yuchun
The siblings are also scheduled to visit their mother in prison this month.
“It has been difficult for the family to see Li Chenhui Samonim since late 2023,” says Representative Foley. “Her situation is not well understood, because she is being held in a high security prison cell, and the family was only permitted to talk to her twice by phone in 2024, and only for five minutes during each call. The family learned that she was ordered to copy the prison rules until her right hand became swollen and stiff. Prior to her transfer to the strict supervision area, she had fainted frequently due to the heavy labor in the kitchen, but she has not been able to receive medical treatment.”
Representative Foley says that despite Pastor Chang’s difficult circumstances, he continues to urge his children to stand firm in their faith.
“When they visited him in prison this month, Pastor Chang told his children, ‘Children, hold on to our faith, be godly, love the Lord through each day, and may God bless you!’ And then said in a heartfelt tone, ‘Father will not compromise’.”
A letter written by Pastor Chang Yuchun to his family from prison
Representative Foley says that Pastor Chang has written several letters to his children. An excerpt from his letter of February 16, 2025 follows:
“Recently, we have been in some weaknesses and difficulties, and we hope to be revitalized and strengthened through the prayers of the people and His gracious help! May He give us grace to reunite our family and friends soon. May you all grow in faith and love and care for one another! May you also make great gains in your studies and in your physical exercise and temperance! And may the two younger ones obey their two older brothers and live, learn and progress under the guidance of His principles. Daddy loves you all! ‘May the sighs of the captives reach Thee, and may Thou preserve those who are about to die according to Thy great power. Thus shall Thy people, the sheep of Thy pasture, give thanks unto Thee forever; and shall declare Thy praise unto all generations.’ (Ps. 79:11, 13). I love you all dearly and Mom; I am looking forward to a speedy reunion! —Dad”
Individuals interested in learning more about the persecution of house church Christians of China can visit https://vomkorea.com/en/project/china.