Walking with the Persecuted Faithful: ChinaAid’s Latest Updates

This week's newsletter shines a light on unyielding courage amid China's crackdowns: From the Word of Life Church, where 30 Christians face wrongful cult charges for their worship; to Jimmy Lai's epic trial in Hong Kong, with a verdict looming that tests press freedom; Pastor Li's inspiring prison poems defying persecution; Cardinal Joseph Chow's urgent plea to Pope Leo XIV on suppressed Catholics; and the tragic loss of 'Hong Kong Mom,' whose daughters begin their healing journey now in a safe, loving, and caring home.
 

Thank you for joining the fight for religious freedom!
 

Lead Story:

From Worship to Wrongful Arrest: Inside the Word of Life Church Crackdown

Imagine the door bursting open during your quiet prayer meeting in Suizhou, Hubei—authorities storming in, handcuffs clinking as they label your faith a cult. You're one of nearly 30 Christians from the Word of Life Church, now facing charges of undermining law enforcement through sermons, discipleship, and gatherings. Your cherished discipleship resources like "No Longer the Same" are twisted as evidence of heresy, while seized cash and jewelry vanish without a trace.
 

Defending innocence in court, you hear lawyers decry this as blatant religious persecution, violating constitutional freedoms. Pastor Zhao Tianen's "Three Transformations" vision for societal service is deemed a threat, mirroring crackdowns in Tibet and Shenyang. 
 

Join the fight for freedom! Stand with these 30 Christians in Suizhou, Hubei, facing unjust cult charges for their faith. Share their story, amplify their voices, and defend religious liberty. 

Read Full Story Now (English translation available)

Story #2: Verdict Looms: Jimmy Lai's Battle for Hong Kong's Soul

Imagine sitting in the tense West Kowloon courtroom, where 77-year-old Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Media, faces the weight of Hong Kong’s future. Smiling calmly, he nods to supporters as his 156-day trial, starting December 2023, concludes on August 28, 2025. Charged with “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and “seditious publications” through Apple Daily’s bold reporting, Lai stands accused of threatening national security via social media posts and alleged foreign ties. 

His defense insists it’s just free speech—“armchair punditry,” not incitement. Health scares and a rainstorm delayed proceedings, but now the world watches: the US demands Lai’s release, the EU calls for law repeal, and Trump pledges support. With the verdict looming in weeks or months, you feel the stakes for Hong Kong’s press freedom and judicial independence hanging in the balance. 
 

Stand with Jimmy Lai in his fight for Hong Kong’s freedom! Share his story, amplify his voice, and defend press liberty against China’s crackdown.

Read Story Now (English translation available)

Story #3:  Pastor Li's Resilient Prison Poems Amid Persecution

Place yourself in Pastor Li’s shoes. Imagine the cold echo of prison bars in Shanxi, where Pastor Li Shuangping clings to faith amid injustice. At 52, after leading the Golden Lampstand Church since 2011, you're sentenced to nine years and two months for "fraud"—a veil for refusing state control.
 

Your wife, Yang Hongzhen, faces two years and nine months suspended, both imprisoned twice since 2009 for house church activities. As your 89-year-old mother passes without a farewell, you pen poems like "Paradise of Suffering," vowing unwavering resolve: "Now imprisoned, bound in chains, I remain unwavering."
 

Stand with Pastor Li Shuangping and his wife against China's faith crackdown! Share their story of prison poems and perseverance, defend religious liberty, and amplify calls for their release. 

Read Story Now (English translation available)

Story #4: Hong Kong Cardinal's Urgent Plea to Pope on China's Hidden Church Persecution

On September 2, 2025, Hong Kong’s Cardinal Joseph Chow sat across from Pope Leo XIV, the air thick with the weight of China’s persecuted Church. As the new Pope, drawing from his past visits to the mainland, listened intently, Chow unveiled the harsh realities: underground believers facing suppression, controversial bishop appointments under the 2018 Sino-Vatican accord, and fragile hopes for dialogue. 

Despite the agreement’s renewals, concerns persist over Beijing’s unilateral bishop appointments and persecution of underground Catholics. Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed his support for Chinese Catholics, urging them to remain steadfast in faith and promote peace. The meeting underscores ongoing efforts to navigate complex diplomatic and religious tensions.

Defend Catholics’ right to worship freely. Share their story now to raise awareness and support the mission for justice. 

Read Full Story Now (English translation available)

Story #5: From Persecution to Tragedy: Hong Kong Mom's Fight for Freedom

Ka Sin “Cassie” Leung, known as “Hong Kong Mom,” fled political persecution in Hong Kong after her husband’s mysterious death in 2020 amid pro-democracy activism. Raising four daughters alone, she sought refuge in Taiwan, facing visa expirations, financial hardship, and statelessness for her youngest child. With assistance from Taiwan’s Jinan Presbyterian Church and ChinaAid, the family obtained U.S. refugee status and resettled in Texas’s Mayflower Church community earlier this year.

Leung adapted quickly, obtaining a driver’s license and securing a part-time delivery job. Tragically, on August 19, 2025, she died in a highway collision on her first workday. Her daughters, aged 7 to 16, are now under temporary guardianship with an American family pursuing adoption to keep them together.

ChinaAid established the “Hong Kong Mom Fund” for the girls’ education and living expenses, raising $433,752.89 to date. A special committee will ensure transparent management, honoring Hong Kong Mom’s legacy of faith and resilience.

Honor Hong Kong Mom’s legacy, donate to the Hong Kong Mom Fund via ChinaAid—ensure they heal and thrive in freedom, education, and faith. 
 

“On behalf of the Leung family and ChinaAid, we are deeply grateful for your overwhelming love and generous support for the four girls through the “Hong Kong Mom’s Legacy” campaign. Your heartfelt contributions are intended to provide for the girls’ living and educational needs, helping to secure a brighter future for them. Thank you for standing with us—God is kind and good.”
- Bob Fu