Preacher Chang Hao and Pastor John Cao arrested for baptism meeting

(Zhenxiong, Yunnan Province – October 21, 2024) While on a visit to Preacher Chang Hao in Zhenxiong on October 14, Pastor John Cao performed multiple baptisms before being disrupted by over twenty police officers. All attendees were taken to the local police station for statements before being released.

The church pastored by Chang Hao had over ten new Christians who needed baptism. Out of respect for church tradition, Chang Hao, considering himself a preacher not yet ordained as a pastor, believed the baptism ceremony should be conducted by an ordained pastor. Thus, Chang Hao invited Pastor John Cao to perform the baptism for these new believers. On October 15, Pastor John Cao explained Acts 2:28 to thirteen new believers and baptized them. Thirty church members also attended the gathering. Since the meeting was held on a Tuesday morning, most attendees were elderly, with an average age over 70.

Just as Chang Hao announced the end of the baptism service, over twenty police officers burst into the meeting place, shouting: “Don’t move! Hand over your phones!” They then searched everyone’s pockets. When some elderly people were slightly slow to respond, the police shouted at them. An 89-year-old sister told them, “We are Christians having a peaceful gathering. We haven’t broken any laws.” Before she could finish, the police yelled at her.

Subsequently, the police took all attendees to the Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau. As each believer walked towards the police vehicles, they were flanked by officers to prevent communication. There were over ten police cars and several special police vans.

At the police station, these elderly and frail believers were left in a corner. From morning until night, only after repeated requests were they provided with a cup of water and a piece of bread. Many elderly people could not endure such physical hardship.

Around midnight, after completing their statements, the elderly believers were released one by one. The main focus of the questioning was on two points: who informed them about the gathering, and who preached and performed the baptisms. Pastor John Cao was released at midnight after completing his statement, while Chang Hao was given a 12-day punishment for illegal religious gathering.

Meanwhile, the police destroyed the meeting place, smashing the projector and confiscating the church’s Bible and other equipment.

Police from Changsha Public Security Bureau escorted Pastor John Cao back to Changsha.

This is Chang Hao’s twentieth-plus administrative detention, each time for the same reason: illegal evangelism.

In his early years, Chang Hao’s hands were severely burned in a factory fire, leaving him unable to hold objects. He is recognized as a person with disabilities by the state. The Zhenxiong Public Security Bureau not only violates religious freedom but also cruelly denies Chang Hao any opportunity to make a living.