The news: Pastor John Sanqiang Cao, an American citizen who was imprisoned in China, is now hospitalized in Changsha with late-stage prostate cancer that has spread to his spine. His wife Jamie Powell visited him in April — their first face-to-face meeting in years — alongside their eldest son and his fiancée. Cao is fighting for the right to return to his family in the United States before he dies.
Why it matters for church leaders: Stories like Pastor Cao's remind us that pastoral ministry can carry a very real cost, especially in restricted regions. For Indian church leaders — particularly those working in sensitive ministry contexts — this is a moment to pray, to stay informed about global persecution, and to strengthen your own pastoral care networks.
The takeaway: Set aside time in your next prayer meeting to intercede specifically for persecuted pastors around the world, including John Cao.
Source: Christianity Today
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