As of June 7, 2025, according to information obtained, Pastor Lian Changnian of Xi’an Church of Abundance, along with Pastor Lian Xuliang and preacher Fu Juan, had been detained since August 17, 2022, on charges of “fraud.” After approximately two years and eight months in custody, and before the case ever went to trial, they were released on bail on April 12, 2025, and reunited with their families.
Following his release, family members took Pastor Lian Changnian to the Xi’an Mental Health Center for an evaluation and a cervical MRI scan.
Medical professionals provided a preliminary mental health diagnosis indicating: (1) organic brain disorder, and (2) anxiety state accompanied by severe mental fatigue.
The MRI revealed cervical vertebral hyperplasia, multiple protrusions of intervertebral discs, and disc edema. Hospitalization was recommended, and Pastor Lian was admitted for treatment on June 3.
During the period of designated residential surveillance, Pastor Lian was subjected to persistent intimidation, threats, and abuse by the authorities handling his case. As a result, throughout his two years and eight months of detention, he was unable to lie down properly to sleep and suffered severe psychological and physical harm.
Background: Pastor Lian Changnian, a native of Henan Province, is a long-standing Christian leader in China’s house church movement. He is the founder and senior pastor of Xi’an Church of Abundance, which he established in Xi’an during the 1990s after serving with the “China Gospel Fellowship,” one of China’s five major house church networks.
Since the new CCP’s “Regulations on Religious Affairs” came into effect in February 2018, house churches across the country have faced unprecedented crackdowns and persecution. The Xi’an Church of Abundance, established by Pastor Lian, has also been subjected to severe suppression and disruption.
Beginning on July 20, 2022, church members in Xi’an faced large-scale verbal summonses and home visits for questioning conducted by police from the Shilipu Police Station in Baqiao District, Xi’an. Some members’ homes were subjected to multiple searches. These actions aimed to coerce believers into providing testimony accusing the pastor of fraud and spreading a cult, and even compelled congregants to fabricate false information about church donations.
On August 17, 2022, Pastor Lian, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and three church staff members were forcibly taken away by local police and had their homes ransacked. The following day, Pastor Lian, his son, and church accountant Fu Juan were placed under designated residential surveillance by the Baqiao District police in Xi’an on suspicion of fraud before being formally criminally detained and arrested.
On August 19, 2022, the Xi’an Civil Affairs Bureau swiftly issued a notice to ban the church. The official reason cited was that the church, in association with the “China Gospel Fellowship” and its Xi’an regional branch, had carried out activities in the name of a social organization without official registration, and was therefore classified as an illegal social organization. Although multiple human rights lawyers have become involved in the case, the three individuals, including the church leaders, were subjected to prolonged secret detention. The police have consistently refused lawyer meetings, citing allegations that the case involves endangering national security. The case is currently before the court, with the prosecution seeking a five-year sentence on charges of fraud.
On April 12, 2025, Zhang Kai, the attorney representing the Xi’an Church of Abundance case, announced: “Good news—our legal team has been handling the Xi’an Church of Abundance case, and a pretrial meeting has already been held, but the trial itself has not yet begun. Today, both Pastors Lian Changnian and Lian Xuliang, along with preacher Fu Juan, were all released on bail pending trial.”
Source: Weiquanwang
