{"id":26223,"date":"2020-05-29T09:55:51","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T00:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?page_id=26223"},"modified":"2026-10-13T11:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T02:40:58","slug":"prisoner-profile-pastor-john-cao-china","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/prisoners\/prisoner-profile-pastor-john-cao-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Ps. Pastor John Cao Imprisoned in China for Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor John Cao” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:center|line_height:1.4em” css=”.vc_custom_1590643521123{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”\uc874 \ucc28\uc624 \ubaa9\uc0ac” color=”custom” accent_color=”#333333″ el_width=”40″ css=”.vc_custom_1590726839926{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_custom_heading text=”ARRESTED JUNE 2017 IN CHINA” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:1.2em|text_align:center|line_height:2em” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20italic%3A500%3Aitalic”][vc_custom_heading text=”RELEASED” font_container=”tag:h4|font_size:34px|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:1.5em” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1709795811167{background-color: #000000 !important;}”][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Prisoner Name” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1587435417994{margin-bottom: 1em !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor John Cao” font_container=”tag:div|font_size:15px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1590643581051{margin-bottom: 1em !important;}” el_class=”headline”][vc_single_image image=”49253″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Location” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1587435436291{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0.6em !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_custom_heading text=”China” font_container=”tag:div|font_size:15px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1605680384423{margin-bottom: 1em !important;}” el_class=”headline” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fvomkorea.com%2Fen%2Fcountry-profile%2Fchina%2F||target:%20_blank|”][vc_single_image image=”26151″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/country-profile\/china\/” el_class=”flag”][vc_btn title=”China Country Profile” style=”outline” shape=”square” color=”success” size=”sm” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-globe” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fvomkorea.com%2Fen%2Fcountry-profile%2Fchina%2F||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”vomgreen”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”UPDATE:” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left|color:%23DD3333″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1791858796206{margin-bottom: 0.6em !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_custom_heading text=”- September 17, 2026″ font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1791858870171{margin-bottom: 0.6em !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_column_text css=””]Though released from prison after completing his full seven-year sentence, Pastor John Cao has remained under restrictions and heavy surveillance that have amounted to house arrest. His passport has also been withheld by Chinese authorities; as a result, he has been unable to reunite with his family abroad for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

In late April 2026, Pastor Cao was urgently admitted to the hospital, where it was discovered that he has late-stage prostate cancer that has metastasized and a spinal tumor that is causing great pain.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”- March 8, 2024″ font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1791858837346{margin-bottom: 0.6em !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_column_text css=””]Pastor John Cao was released on March 3, 2024, after serving a seven-year sentence in Kunming, Yunnan province. John was a missionary in Myanmar\u2019s Wa state, where he worked to fight poverty and provide aid to more than 2,000 impoverished minority children. Though Chinese officials knew he had routinely crossed the border between China and Myanmar, they arrested him on March 5, 2017, on a charge of illegal border crossing. The authorities later changed the charge to \u201corganizing illegal border crossings\u201d and sentenced the pastor to seven years in prison in March 2018.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”- August 2020, A Visit from His Mother” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1791858821135{margin-bottom: 0.6em !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_column_text]Pastor John Cao was able to meet with his mother a few days ago. Because of the pandemic, his mother was only able to see him via video link, but she said John looks fine. He told her he prays daily for his brothers and sisters in Christ and everything going on in the world. He said he is also aware of what has happened to Pastor Wang Yi.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>He reassured his mother that he does not have to do field work, and that he has time to read and interact with other inmates.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Prisoner Profile” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1587620873552{margin-bottom: 0.6em !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_column_text]On March 5, 2017, police arrested Cao San-Qiang (John Cao), a Chinese pastor known for his work among Myanmar\u2019s poor. Authorities charged Pastor Cao with \u201corganizing illegal crossings of national borders\u201d and, one year later, sentenced him to seven years in prison.<\/p>\n

Pastor Cao, 58, is married to an American citizen and is a long-time resident of North Carolina. The pastor, who is currently being held in the Menglian Detention Center, had been crossing the border between China and Myanmar for three years without incident and with the knowledge of Chinese officials. In the Wa State of northern Myanmar, Pastor Cao helped build 16 schools that serve 2,000 impoverished children. He also established educational projects to help alleviate poverty among local minority groups.<\/p>\n

Experts believe his arrest and sentencing are related to the ruling Communist Party\u2019s attempts to control, the house church movement.<\/p>\n

Pastor Cao became a believer in his 20s. After he married an American citizen, attended seminary and settled in the U.S., he felt led to return as a missionary to his home country of China. He worked for many years\u00a0 establishing\u00a0 schools\u00a0 in\u00a0 China\u00a0 before\u00a0 turning\u00a0 his\u00a0 attention\u00a0 to\u00a0 neighboring\u00a0 Myanmar\u00a0 in\u00a0 2014. According to his son, his work in Myanmar was much more humanitarian than his previous work with the house churches in China.<\/p>\n

After he was arrested, the world learned about his imprisonment and sent many letters to him. The Chinese government kept postponing his trial because so many people sent letters. But, in July 2019, he was sentenced to 7 years in prison.<\/p>\n

Pray for the pastor\u2019s wife, Jamie Powell, and their sons, Benjamin and Amos.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”How to write a letter” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1642034015751{margin-bottom: 16px !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_btn title=”Instructions for writing a letter” style=”outline” shape=”square” color=”danger” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fvomkorea.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F10%2FInstruction_English.pdf||target:%20_blank|”][vc_btn title=”Scripture verses in Chinese” style=”outline” shape=”square” color=”success” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-pencil” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fvomkorea.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FChina_Letter-Contents_English.pdf||target:%20_blank|”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Click the button above to print Scripture verses in the prisoner’s language. You can cut and paste them to your letter. <\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Address for Mailing” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1587621145917{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}” el_class=”country-title”][vc_column_text]Cao San-Qiang
\nMailbox No.2, No. 48 Wangdaqiao,
\nDongjiao, Kunming Prison, Kunming City,
\nYunnan Province 650216
\nPeople\u2019s Republic of China[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”35050″ img_size=”full” onclick=”img_link_large” img_link_target=”_blank”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator el_width=”80″][vc_custom_heading text=”\u25ba \u25ba SEE All PRISONERS OF FAITH” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:1em|text_align:center|color:%23222222|line_height:2em” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20italic%3A500%3Aitalic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fvomkorea.com%2Fen%2Fprisoner-profiles||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” overlay_dotted=”” css=”.vc_custom_1587382232523{background-image: url(https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bg-prison.png?id=24664) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1505212801534{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them,
\nand those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

Hebrews 13:3<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

SEE ALL PRISONERS OF FAITH<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor John Cao” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:center|line_height:1.4em” css=”.vc_custom_1590643521123{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”\uc874 \ucc28\uc624 \ubaa9\uc0ac” color=”custom” accent_color=”#333333″ el_width=”40″ css=”.vc_custom_1590726839926{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_custom_heading text=”ARRESTED JUNE 2017 IN CHINA” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:1.2em|text_align:center|line_height:2em” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20italic%3A500%3Aitalic”][vc_custom_heading text=”RELEASED” font_container=”tag:h4|font_size:34px|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:1.5em” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” …","protected":false},"author":903,"featured_media":0,"parent":19832,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26223","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.6","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"campaignId":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/903"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26223"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60904,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26223\/revisions\/60904"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}