Imprisoned 70-year-old Pastor Lian Changnian’s exhibits unusual behavior

(Xi’an, Shaanxi Province – May 8, 2024) On April 28, 2024, a defense lawyer visited 70-year-old Pastor Lian Changnian of Xi’an Church of Abundance, who is being held on suspicion of “fraud,” at the Xi’an Baqiao Detention Center. During this visit, the lawyer noticed that Pastor Lian’s hair, which was graying before his imprisonment, had turned completely white. His face was deeply wrinkled, and he appeared listless and highly tense, with an unusual demeanor and behavior. He would either use his hand to support his head from different directions or keep his head lowered. His voice was very low, and he would only answer one out of ten questions, unable to express himself clearly.

However, he mentioned that “this [being imprisoned for one’s faith] is something one cannot ask for even if one wanted to.” During the meeting, Pastor Lian suddenly stood up several times, appearing very fearful and uneasy.

Xi’an Church of Abundance is one of the largest house church groups in China, affiliated with the China Gospel Fellowship, which has long suffered government persecution. The China Gospel Fellowship has even been listed as one of a dozen banned cult organizations, and pastors, co-workers, and congregants have been subjected to large-scale arrests multiple times. Pastor Lian Changnian has also been imprisoned several times.

On August 17, 2022, the Shilipu Police Station in Xi’an took Pastor Lian Changnian, his son Pastor Lian Xuliang, and co-worker Fu Juan into custody for “fraud” and placed them under residential surveillance at a designated location. After being secretly detained for half a year at a government-designated location, their families finally received news about them. During their designated residential surveillance, they suffered torture, including starvation, beatings, being force-fed unknown drugs, and being denied access to the toilet for extended periods. On February 15, 2023, they were criminally detained on suspicion of “fraud” and held in a detention center, after which their food and sleep were guaranteed. On March 22, 2023, with the approval of the People’s Procuratorate of Baqiao District, Xi’an City, they were formally arrested on suspicion of “fraud.” Afterwards, the police continued to summon Christians from the church, using torture to coerce them into betraying and framing the pastors and abandoning their faith.

It is reported that the case entered the court at the end of January 2024, with the court’s indictment amount for the three Christians being ￥390,000 yuan(~55,145 U.S. dollars). The sentencing recommendation for all three is five years.

On April 29, 2024, Xi’an Church of Abundance issued an open prayer letter stating that Pastor Lian Changnian had suffered severe abuse during his designated residential surveillance by the public security organs in a designated hotel from August 17, 2022, to February 15, 2023. A police officer surnamed Zhang beat Pastor Lian Xuliang, Pastor Lian Changnian’s son, in front of him. During that period, Pastor Lian Changnian’s physical and mental health had already been severely damaged.

The prayer letter calls on the People’s Procuratorate of Baqiao District, and the People’s Court of Baqiao District, to release this 70-year-old man, stating that his family is very concerned about the physical and mental state of this elderly person who has been detained for nearly one year and nine months. Xi’an Church of Abundance also requests other churches and Christians to pray for Lian Changnian, asking the Lord to keep him and strengthen him.