CHINA’S “GOSPEL WARRIOR” RETURNS TO STREET EVANGELISM ON THE DAY OF HIS PRISON RELEASE
Evangelist Chen Wensheng from Hengyang, Hunan province was released from Deshan Prison on April 2, 2025, after serving a 19-month sentence on charges of “organizing and financing unlawful gatherings” for preaching the gospel in the streets. Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley says that on the day of his release, Evangelist Chen and his wife were back on the streets of Hengyang doing evangelism.
Representative Foley, whose organization serves China’s house church Christians in partnership with US-based China Aid, says Evangelist Chen has been nicknamed “China’s Gospel Warrior”.
“He has been arrested more than 100 times for his work as a street evangelist,” says Representative Foley. “Even though he has now spent more than 700 days in prison, every time he is released, he returns to the street to continue preaching the gospel.”
She says Evangelist Chen’s most recent prison sentence was the harshest one yet.
“In August 2023, Evangelist Chen wanted to take a flight from Shanghai to Jeju Island to preach the gospel on Jeju Island, but authorities intercepted him at the Shanghai Airport and sent him back to Hengyang,” says Representative Foley.
After being detained and arrested in Hengyang, Evangelist Chen was convicted by the court last April on the charge of “organizing and financing unlawful gatherings”. The evangelist was sentenced on June 20, 2024, to 19 months in prison, a term he completed on April 2.
Chinese street evangelist Chen Wensheng and his wife (Source: Internet)
According to Representative Foley, the court gave Evangelist Chen a heavy sentence for two reasons.
“First, they noted that despite being arrested and detained so many times, he still refuses to change his ways,” says Representative Foley. “Second, they said that he had ‘disturbed the social order’ by repeatedly organizing individual and group evangelistic activities in public places like vegetable markets, crossroads, storefronts, and ethnic minority areas.”
On April 5, 2025, Chen Wensheng left a message on WeChat:
“Hallelujah! Praise the Lord Jesus!
“Thank you very much for the [Christian] family’s intercession! Thank God that I have been sent back to the hotel in Hengyang city safely from Deshan Prison yesterday. Thank God that today we have arranged to go on a free trip to preach the gospel. Please continue to intercede for our family members.
“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly (Phil 1:12-14).”
Chinese street evangelist Chen on the streets of Hengyang preaching the gospel
According to Representative Foley, Evangelist Chen is in good spirits following his release from prison.
“He is much thinner than he was before he was sent to prison, but he is still smiling and full of joy, as always,” she says. “He revealed that during his time in prison he continued to preach the gospel. More than 300 prisoners received Christ, and three prisoners were baptized.”
“Years ago Evangelist Chen was a drug addict,” says Representative Foley. “When he heard the gospel, he was delivered from his addiction and immediately began preaching on the streets. He’s been a street preacher for more than 15 years. He is a member of a small church, and yet he continues to inspire Christians around the world with his bold, costly witness for the gospel.”
Individuals interested in learning about Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s work in partnership with the house church Christians of China can visit https://vomkorea.com/en/china/.