Leaders arrested at church founded by Hudson Taylor, charged with fraud

The Foundation of a Family of Faith

The history of the Linfen Christian Church dates back to 1878 when it was founded by Hudson Taylor, a British missionary and the founder of the China Inland Mission. Pastors Wang

Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli both come from deep Christian roots. Both were born into pastor families, and Pastor Wang is a fourth-generation Christian. His great-grandfather survived the China Martyrs of 1900, which occurred during the Boxer Rebellion, and his grandfather served during the Republic of China era as principal of the “Hongdong Bible Seminary” in Shanxi, founded by Hudson Taylor himself.

Pastor Wang came to faith at the age of 13 or 14. He was forced to drop out of school due to the Cultural Revolution, returning to his hometown of Hongdong in Shanxi to work. In the midst of hardship, he self-studied the Bible and began a profound spiritual journey. His rapidly growing biblical knowledge and powerful preaching quickly won recognition in the church. It was during this period that he felt a clear calling from God to focus on biblical teaching and ministry.

God Orchestrated a Partner in Life and Ministry

A turning point in Pastor Wang’s life was meeting his wife, Yang Rongli. She not only took care of household affairs but also wholeheartedly managed church affairs. Pastor Wang once privately expressed his gratitude towards his wife to his son, “It was your mother who made me who I am.” Interestingly, it was his wife who first expressed her feelings to him. To Wang Xiaoguang, it was a blessing that “fell into his lap.” It reminds one of the Creator’s words: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18 NIV)

Yang Rongli was a university student, and at the time, joining the church meant cutting oneself off from mainstream society. She chose to marry a “seemingly hopeless preacher.” Her dedication to God and her longing to walk with a devout partner surpassed any worldly ambition. She, too, came from a devout Christian family. Her father was an orphan raised by the church who even named himself “Fei Wu” (meaning “not I”), symbolizing his complete dedication to God. His strong faith and commitment had a profound influence on Yang Rongli, who inherited his steadfast character.

During a government-led campaign to denounce pastors, her father refused to write any criticism against respected pastors who “did not know how to go with the tide.” Eventually, Pastor Yang and his wife relocated their entire family to a remote rural area, where he continued to preach until his passing. Yang Xiaoguang’s father-in-law was known for his integrity and discipline, a man of his word who raised his children with strictness and was never careless with the teachings of the faith. It is precisely this determination that left a lasting influence on his children. Three generations of the Yang family have been Christians, with most involved in gospel ministry.

The Experience of the Wife’s Early Calling

Yang Rongli’s early calling to ministry was evident during her pursuit of higher education. She firmly believed God wanted her to use her education to serve the church, and she experienced miraculous intervention during her college entrance exam.

The night before the exam, a math teacher unexpectedly paid her a visit. He tutored her on a few problems and left. She did not have much interaction with this teacher, so the visit was unexpected. Until later, one of the exact high-scoring problems that this teacher tutored her on appeared on the exam. She was beyond amazed and realized that God had a special plan regarding this matter.

Soon after, she received an acceptance letter from the Chinese Department at Shanxi University. However, another unexpected event occurred again. Her wallet, which held the acceptance letter, was stolen on her way home. She was distraught and turned to prayer, at a loss of what to do. Miraculously, the next morning, her second-eldest sister, who lived in the city, returned home early in the morning and handed her the wallet and acceptance letter. The sister explained that during the night, someone had knocked on her door repeatedly and loudly. When she inquired, the individual did not respond and kept knocking. When she approached the door, the individual slipped something through the door crack; it turned out to be the wallet, and the acceptance letter was sandwiched inside. As soon as she opened the door, the individual who had been knocking fled. After the incident, Yang Rongli and her sister later speculated that the thief had returned it; her exam registration was to her sister’s home address. Through this series of events, she became increasingly clear of God’s will, realizing that it was entirely by grace that she got into college and that God had so blessed and clearly intervened in her life to accomplish His will through her.

Settling in Linfen and Devoting Themselves to Church Ministry

In 1982, after graduating from university, Yang Rongli began considering marriage and soon met Wang Xiaoguang. After their wedding, the couple settled in Linfen, Shanxi Province. Both found employment at Shanxi Normal University in Linfen, Yang Rongli worked in the editorial department, while Wang Xiaoguang became a staff member in the teaching materials office, working in a narrow, empty storeroom.

At the same time, Wang Xiaoguang and his wife remained deeply involved in church ministry. Initially, they participated in the Linfen church, which was under the government-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement. The Linfen church had deep ties to Wang Xiaoguang’s family; over a century ago, his family had participated in rebuilding the church using the Boxer Indemnity. Wang’s grandfather’s maternal grandfather surnamed Sang, was one of the local Christians responsible for the reconstruction of the Linfen church. After 1949, both the church and its affiliated hospital were taken over by the government. The “Shansheng Hospital” became today’s Linfen People’s Hospital, and the church was placed under the control of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

As the church declined and dysfunction increased, the couple realized the need for greater autonomy. In 1992, they made the pivotal decision to separate from the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. This courageous step led to the founding of the Linfen Christian Church as a house church. Nearly all of its 1,000 church members followed them into this new beginning.

Full-Time Ministry and Church Revival

Starting in 1998, Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli retired early to dedicate themselves fully to the church’s rapidly growing ministry. With the support of Yang Rongli’s younger brother, Yang Xuan, and other coworkers, the church experienced remarkable growth. The pastoral team continued to expand, Bible teaching flourished, and numerous fellowship gatherings were established throughout the city. 2009 marked the culmination of the church’s flourishing ministry with the construction of the magnificent “Golden Lampstand Church,” built under immense pressure. This revival occurred on a land once hostile to Christianity, vividly illustrating the famous words of the early Church Father, Tertullian: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

Pastor Wang Xiaoguang was a man consumed by Zeal for the Lord. Dr. Fan Yafeng of Beijing’s Shenshan Church once remarked, “Every time I went to Shanxi to meet Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, I would return sick. Why? Because he is a man zealous for the Lord. From 6 or 7 in the morning until midnight or even later, he would passionately discuss the entire time, and it would all be about God’s kingdom. So you see this man who, if he is out of his mind, it is for God (2 Corinthians 5:13), and you understand how Linfen Church grew from 26 members to 50,000–60,000 in just over 20 years. That kind of explosive growth comes from having a leader so consumed by Zeal for the Lord.”

The Coming of the Storm: Demolition, Arrest, and Imprisonment

“Their works follow them” (Rev 14:13); this revival was forged through persecution (Acts 8:1–4). As the gospel spread, it drew the attacks of its enemies. In 2009, authorities recognized the commercial value of the Church’s land, and attempts were made to forcibly expropriate it. When the Church refused to sell, the government threatened to demolish the Golden Lampstand Church. The conflict eventually escalated into a violent clash: more than 500 people attacked the Linfen Fushan Church, injuring over 100. The main Church, Golden Lampstand Church, was surrounded by armed forces. Yang Rongli was placed under criminal detention, held in solitary confinement at the Taiyuan Detention Center, and force-fed during her hunger strike. She was sentenced to seven years in prison. Pastor Wang Xiaoguang received a three-year sentence. Other key coworkers were also imprisoned. Over thirty fellowship sites were forcibly shut down.

In the face of persecution, the pastoral couple did not retreat. They continued shepherding their flock, embodying theologian Walter Brueggemann’s description of true prophets as those who “maintain a visionary community in the midst of adversity.” In hardship, they proclaimed the gospel and pursued a vision of “church revival.” Their suffering was not punishment for wrongdoing, but a reflection of Christ’s redemptive work, echoing the image of the suffering servant in Isaiah.

In October 2016, Yang Rongli was released from prison. She resolutely refused to join the TSPM, resulting in the loss of her pension and medical benefits. Choosing faith over worldly gain, she displayed unwavering commitment to her beliefs. As official discontent intensified, authorities ultimately blew up the Golden Lampstand Church in early 2018.

Persecution did not cease. In August 2021, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, Yang Rongli, and seven other church leaders were arrested once more. The case was approved by the provincial Public Security Department.

Deepening the Resolve to Resist

They were held in custody for three years and eight months. On April 17, 2025, the judicial authorities of the Yaodu District in Linfen distorted the church’s donation practices, falsely charging them with the disgraceful crime of “fraud.” Despite the slander, Pastor Wang remained composed. He told his son, Wang Yunxiang, that he did not mind being put on trial and regarded it as “a great honor” (Romans 8:17, Ephesians 3:13). However, what weighed most on his heart was his wife.

Such an unwavering stance echoes Brueggemann’s assertion: “The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.” Though imprisoned, Pastor Wang refused to conform to the status quo and responded with “great honor”— a prophetic act of resistance and hope. He willingly bore suffering, living out the example of the suffering servant, deeply resonating with Isaiah 53. As Bonhoeffer once said, “Only a suffering God can help.” Pastor Wang’s declaration of “great honor” in prison was not romanticizing suffering but affirming God’s presence in his affliction. Suffering is not empty, it is a bridge to hope (Romans 5:3–4). As Barth emphasized: “Look to the crucified Christ… He suffered for us… He has won the victory… We only need to follow.” God is not distant but shares in abandonment and pain. Professor Moltmann also noted, “God stands with the forsaken through the cross.”

Wang Yunxiang shared a deeply emotional moment from the trial. As the police were about to take him away, his father suddenly called out to him, asking him to find a watch. Yunxiang was puzzled that his father would worry about a watch at such a critical moment. Pastor Wang explained, “Because it was a gift from your mother, I can’t lose it.” This moved Yunxiang to tears, revealing the profound love and mutual care between his parents. He reflected, “My mother’s heart is with the brothers and sisters; my father’s heart is with my mother.” Pastor Wang regarded the trial as “glory,” while also showing deep concern for his wife, an embodiment of the prophetic tradition’s “realistic resistance.” His calm and resolve radiated light in the darkness, just like the church he built: “Golden Lampstand,” meant to shine in the night.

Family and Generational Transmission

Among all their years of ministry, one of the deepest sorrows for Wang and Yang was their son. Their devotion to the church came at the cost of time with family, which led to Yunxiang’s rebellion and poor academic performance. Pastor Wang was heartbroken over his son’s path and, during intense persecution, tearfully prayed: “I’ve taught so many of Your children, Lord, please teach mine.”

That prayer of tears was not just a father’s plea, it was a covenant of shared suffering. Brueggemann wrote, “Tears are a form of covenant with pain,” and that moment became a spiritual handoff between father and son. Years later, Yunxiang admitted, “God accomplished what they could not.” Over time, God opened his heart in various ways, helping him understand that His servants are often sent to suffer in place of others, sometimes at the cost of themselves, even their families (Matthew 10:37). In reflection, Yunxiang later realized that even if his parents had sacrificed their son for God, God had repaid them a hundredfold through His own Son, Jesus. Any loss pales in comparison to the immeasurable glory of what God is doing through them.

The Lord Still Reigns

Looking back on the Linfen Church, Yunxiang sees it as a “younger sibling,” growing up under his parents’ care alongside him. He admits that the church received more attention from his parents, and at times he felt neglected. He realized that, in a way, he was jealous of that “son” (the church) just like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son. Yet despite feeling overlooked by his parents, God personally became his Father, showing him mercy and remembering the family of His servant.

Today, Yunxiang holds a deeper reverence and pride for his parents. He declares, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14 – 15)

Pastor Wang Xiaoguang and Sister Yang Rongli remain imprisoned, but their testimony endures. The prayers and service sown in tears have already borne abundant fruit (Psalm 126:5–6), deeply rooted in the hearts of Christians. If we only looked at their personal lives, we might see suffering, persecution, and loss. But when we look at the God they serve, we see hope, glory, and victory.

May their testimony remind us that God, who calls us to walk the path of the cross, never abandons His servants. In every age, He raises up workers willing to be “fools for Christ,” that His church might shine more brightly under persecution. As it is written: “If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.” (2 Corinthians 5:13) — ChinaAid