Source: www.ChinaAid.org
Date: February 1, 2022
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| Gao Heng holds a sign: "June 4, pray for the country" at a subway station (Photo: Gao Heng's Facebook page) |
(Guangzhou, Guangdong Province—February 1, 2022) The Chinese government scheduled a secret trial against Christian Gao Heng on February 11. Brother Gao is a Christian of Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church. He was charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”.
On June 4, 2021, the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, Brother Gao Heng stood at a station of Guangzhou Subway Line Two, holding a sign that stated: “June 4, pray for the country.” He went missing that night. On the morning of June 7, his church’s lawyer traveled to the local police station for information. The lawyer learned from an officer that Brother Gao had been criminally detained and charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” He was formally arrested in mid-July at the end of his detention period, a maximum of 37 days.
On the morning of June 12, Lawyer Wen Yu, a Christian, drove more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) to meet with Gao Heng at Guangzhou Detention Center.
During his visit with Gao, he expressed warm regards from Brother Gao’s family, friends, and Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Brother Gao asked the lawyer to reassure his loved ones.
Gao Heng's pastor Huang Xiaoning and the church helped to investigate and implement legal options. Church members also comforted his father and sister who do not yet believe in Christ. Brother Gao’s father was threatened by local national security agents and forced to change his lawyer. Under huge pressure, he also refused to answer church members’ phone calls and help. His father never revealed any details of the threats. His elder sister said police went to their father’s home for investigation on June 17. They told him that Brother Gao would be released in three days. Later his family realized they lied to his father in order to get more information from him.
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| Brother Gao shares the gospel with a police officer on Christmas night (Photo: Gao Heng's Facebook page) |
Brother Gao, a gentle and humble person, zealously shares the gospel. On Christmas night of 2020, he, Pastor Huang, and other Christians of his church shared the gospel on the streets. At that time, CCP officials had canceled Christmas celebration events all over the country. On International Children’s Day 2020, Brother Gao traveled to streets and subway stations with signs:
“I am a Christian. I object to abortion.
I object to abortion. A fetus also has a life.
A good man shall not let his beloved woman have an abortion.”
Brother Gao practices the Bible’s teaching in Micah: “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” He focuses on seeking justice in social, and public affairs. Gao speaks up for injustice and helps petitioners protect their rights. As a result, police have summoned him in the past. He takes any opportunity to share the gospel with police officers and national security agents.
When he held his sign on the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre which led to his arrest, he also posted a picture of himself to several social media venues. He wrote the following on his Weibo page:
“People usually attributed the cause of all social sufferings to the ugliness of politics and social systems. The root cause, however, evolves from the sinful nature of human beings. In terms of sinful nature, no fundamental difference exists between us and decision-makers, directors, and executors.
I say, “Thank you, God. We are all sinners. But because of Your amazing grace, we have the opportunity to repent, accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, and become Your children.”
That was also his last Weibo post prior to his detention. Authorities arrested him from his home after midnight on June 5.
Pastor Huang Xiaoning expressed his indignation regarding Brother's Gao's arrest:
“A man who appeals to pray for his country is arrested by the country?
It's not a sin for Christians to pray!
Christians can pray any day.
Christians can pray everywhere.
Please pray for Brother Gao Heng.”
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
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