“The group members, led by Evangelist Wang Honglang, acted out of love,” says Representative Foley. “They used money from their own pockets, earned through their own businesses and work, to purchase the Bibles. They sold the Bibles at a financial loss in order to help others afford a Bible.” 

The court handed down prison sentences ranging from four years and 10 months for Evangelist Wang down to one year for the ninth group member. Group members were also ordered to pay fines, ranging from 1,000,000 CNY (approximately $137,000 USD) for Evangelist Wang down to 5,000 CNY (approximately $700 USD) for the ninth group member. 

Although the verdict was announced this month, it was actually issued by the court in November 2024 but not released to the public.  

“Based on time already served in prison during the investigation and trial, Evangelist Wang—whose prison sentence is the longest—is expected to be released, on February 14, 2026,” says Representative Foley. 

On April 15, 2021, Evangelist Wang was arrested, along with her 73-year-old husband Ji Heying, her son Ji Guolong, her nephew Wang Jiale, co-workers Liu Wei, Liu Minna, and three others. The group was formally charged on November 2021, but the trial did not begin until November 2023, in the Huimin District Court in Inner Mongolia. The trial lasted nearly 50 days, concluding in January 2024.  

The original sentencing was scheduled for December 5, 2024, but was canceled at the last minute due to the presiding judge falling ill. A new sentencing date was scheduled for March 27, 2025 but was called off without explanation. Then this month the court announced that the verdict had actually been finalized in November 2024 but was now being made public. 

Representative Foley says that reports confirm that all nine experienced torture and were forced to make confessions during the investigation. She says that despite the harsh treatment and the long imprisonment even during the trial, the defendants’ conduct and testimonies of faith won them the respect of many observers, not only fellow Christians.  

“The authorities did everything they could to shame Evangelist Wang and the others,” says Representative Foley. “Evangelist Wang was brought into the courtroom in handcuffs, as though she were a dangerous prisoner. At the trial, when her attorney asked her about her religious beliefs, she recited the Apostle’s Creed, though court officials interrupted her. But her fellow prisoners came to respect her and the other defendants as they saw the genuineness of their faith.”  

According to Representative Foley, attorneys for the defendants built their case around the selflessness of the Christians. “The defense attorneys recommended the dismissal of all charges, saying that the defendants were on trial for their good deeds, not crimes,” says Representative Foley. “One of the attorneys told the court, ‘We are all beneficiaries of the Holy Bible. Perhaps many Christians’ Holy Bibles were subsidized by Wang Honglan and other defendants. They have paid a great price for this, and the lawyers urge everyone not to forget them.’” 

The prosecutor’s office claims the group was responsible for more than 40 million CNY (approximately $5,500,000 USD) of discounted Bible sales.  

Individuals interested in learning about or supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s work in partnership with persecuted Christians in China can visit www.vomkorea.com/en/china or give via electronic transfer to: 

KB Bank: 463501-01-243303 

Account Holder: (사)순교자의소리 

Please note “China” on the transfer.