Pastor Cao Sanqiang’s Prayer Request

After learning that Pastor Jin had been released, and because he himself has been out of contact for nine years, is seriously ill, has an extremely low white blood cell count, and is undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, he earnestly asks believers to pray for him, hoping that he will soon be permitted to return home and reunite with his family.

Pastor Cao reflects on his patriotic good deeds over many years overseas (such as in Guizhou, Myanmar, and Nepal), including poverty alleviation, building schools, and promoting Chinese culture, stressing that he has always adhered to the separation of church and state and never attacked the Chinese government. Recently, he argued with staff after refusing to attend a “Three-Self” gathering; although he has asked a lawyer to communicate with them, he still feels physically and mentally exhausted.The article concludes with a prayer poem written by a believer, praying that he will overcome his illness and recover his health.

Early yesterday morning, I posted a few words saying that Pastor Jin had been released and had already arrived in LA on the other side, accompanied by his photo. At 8 o’clock, I borrowed my mother’s phone and went from her WeChat account to my Moments, but I could not see that post at all. Only then did I realize that the message had been censored.

By the afternoon, everyone basically knew that Pastor Jin had arrived on the other side. Many brothers and sisters also left messages for me, wishing that I would be the next person to return to the United States and reunite with my family. I have been separated from my family for more than nine years, including seven years behind prison walls. I am now seriously ill again, so it seems only reasonable that I should receive humanitarian consideration from the relevant authorities.

After I returned to Changsha, local government personnel have always treated me well, and I have done my best to act according to their requirements. Ultimately, I have always held goodwill toward our government. In 1996, I engaged in poverty alleviation in Guizhou, independently funded the construction of a Hope Primary School, and donated it to a local village, resolving the schooling problems of several hundred children. Beginning in 2012, I went to Myanmar to build primary schools for poverty alleviation, teach Chinese, promote Chinese culture, and engage in drug rehabilitation ministry. The drugs in Yunnan all come from Myanmar. In effect, I went deep behind enemy lines, “serving the country through a circuitous route,” and contributing to the nation. Along with more than a hundred Christians, I served in Myanmar and established more than twenty primary and secondary schools. From any perspective, this not only helped poor people in Myanmar, but was also greatly beneficial to China. During this period, I also led Chinese Christians to Nepal to provide disaster relief. While helping victims of the disaster in Nepal, this could also be regarded as winning a little face for our country.

During the decades I wandered overseas, I always stayed away from politics, strictly adhered to the principle of separation of church and state, and never attacked our government. I can say with a clear conscience that I am a patriotic Christian. Of course, in my view, China’s Christians are all patriots. No Chinese Christian has any intention whatsoever of overthrowing this country or government.

After I came out, I actually did not attach much importance to returning to the United States, because I felt that I still had a long life ahead of me; if God wanted me to stay in China for longer, then I would stay for more years. But now my state of mind is somewhat different. Having grown old and fallen ill, I have become somewhat more melancholy. I especially long to reunite with my family, particularly to see my adorable grandson. He will be one year old in a little over ten days, yet I have not even held him. Sometimes, I secretly shed tears. Thank you all for your concern. Please continue to pray for me. May the Lord open the door and let me return home for a visit.

After I became ill, many brothers and sisters left messages telling me that I must keep a joyful heart, as this is an effective weapon for overcoming illness. I am happy every day; I only occasionally get angry. I have been coughing constantly recently, and the doctor instructed me not to see people or speak, because my white blood cell count has become very low after radiotherapy, making me susceptible to infection and illness. But sometimes unpleasant things inevitably happen. For example, yesterday morning (Sunday morning), several people made things difficult for me and forbade me from receiving more than ten visitors at home. They said that I was engaging in illegal activities, so I loudly argued with these several burly men. Of course, I was in the right, because my rights are protected by the Constitution; it was just that arguing with them for an hour truly exhausted me physically.

These burly men demanded that we attend a “Three-Self” gathering. I said that we were not the same as the “Three-Self” church. They said that going to the “Three-Self” church meant obeying discipline and the law. I stated that we did not really agree with the content presented by the “Three-Self” church. They then said that the “Three-Self” church had many rooms and that they could give us one room in which to carry out our activities. I said that would not work either: once we walked through the door of the “Three-Self” church, we would never be able to clear our names, even if we jumped into the Yellow River.

In the end, I called my lawyer and had my lawyer communicate with them, which kept my energy from being completely exhausted. But after I returned home, I was still so tired that I collapsed. My cough, which had improved, started up again.

My view, and that of everyone else, is that we must persist for as long as we can, one day at a time. My white blood cell count is currently very low, and I received an injection to raise it yesterday. At the same time, my platelet count is also extremely low. In short, the first few weeks after stopping radiotherapy are a critical recovery period. Please raise your hands and pray for me.

Yesterday, a brother wrote a prayer poem for me. I reproduce it below and express my thanks to him and to all the brothers and sisters who care about me:

I have someone on my mind, grievously ill in a distant land; I hold deep affection, my heart bound through a hundred turns;

The road is long, and I cannot attend to him in person; morning and evening, I pray to Heaven; the road ahead cannot be foreseen, and every night I think of him;

Moreover, he suffers the ravages of treatment, sorrowful and anxious; radiation and chemotherapy injure flesh and bone, while nutrition preserves health;

The Heavenly Father’s grace is abundant; how could prayer ever be forgotten?