Devotees allegedly defrauded by the leaders insist they are not victims and that there was no fraud. The court refuses to hear them.
“Bitter Winter” has reported over the years on the persecution of the Church of Abundance (Fengsheng), a historical house church in Xi’an, Shaanxi, which has managed to survive and operate for around thirty years.
On June 20, 2022, the homes of several believers were raided. The church was accused of being a xie jiao or a “cult,” despite its mainstream theology. Authorities claimed that it had fraudulently collected donations. It has become routine for Chinese officials to assert that any donations gathered for a religious organization not affiliated with one of the five authorized religions are inherently obtained through fraudulent means.
On August 19, the Church of Abundance was officially dissolved, not as a xie jiao but as an “illegal social organization.” The church was instructed to stop its activities, or its members and pastors would risk arrest and detention. Pastor Lian Changnian, his son Pastor Lian Xuliang, and Sister Fu Juan were placed under “residential surveillance at a designated location.”
Relatives were later informed that the prisoners had been involved in activities that endangered national security, which led to restrictions on lawyers visiting them. In the meantime, Pastor Lian Changnian’s mental and physical health seriously deteriorated. After being committed for trial, the defendants were released on bail on April 12, 2025.
On June 24, 2025, the Baqiao District Court began the trial for the case. The individuals identified as “victims” of the alleged “fraud” requested the opportunity to testify, asserting that they are not “victims” and that no “fraud” has occurred. Their request was denied, prompting them to send a statement to the court and several human rights organizations.
Pastor Lian Xuliang has issued a statement asserting that his lawyers arrived at the court on time for the hearing scheduled for June 24. However, court personnel delayed them, and when they were finally informed that it was too late, they were barred from attending the hearing.
Pastor Lian Xuliang sees this as a clear violation of the rule of law. He believes it is a tactic to pressure him to change his legal representation to lawyers who are more willing to cooperate with the authorities—an occurrence that is becoming increasingly common in cases involving “illegal” religion.
Source: Bitter Winter
