China has freed an American pastor after 15 years in jail for fundraising on behalf of a Christian church in Beijing.
David Lin, who the US claims was wrongfully detained, will be reunited with his family in Texas after nearly two decades apart.
Mr Lin, 68, was given a life sentence in 2009 for contract fraud after entering [China](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/china/) in 2006. His sentence was later reduced and he was scheduled for release in December 2029.
The Californian pastor tried to open a Christian church in Beijing in 2006, according to local media.
Under Chinese law, all recognised faiths must be registered and approved by the government and are closely monitored.
According to the Dui Hua Foundation, a human rights foundation with a focus in China, contract fraud is a crime frequently used against small church leaders, who raise funds to support their work.
Imagine doing insane stuff like this when you have a family to take care of. Religion is a hell of a drug.
cone10 on
Let’s do this to all megachurch pastors.
A person can dream, no?
FriendShapedRMT on
He was not wrongfully detained. He really did try to do what he was charged with. China gave him leniency but he will probably go back to Texas and say God was watching him.
ToranjaNuclear on
What the fuck is wrong with the comments here, jfc
RaccoonCannon on
Turns out, reddit hates Christians more than communist dictatorships.
I for one, am shocked.
Freydo-_- on
Christians being persecuted and people making fun of them for it? Wow… I was almost surprised
dicemaze on
reddit: it’s awful what China is doing to the Uyghurs! imprisoning and oppressing a whole people just for trying to practice their religion, can you believe the hatred?
also Reddit: he tried to start a church? in China? fuck ‘em, he shoulda died in Chinese prison!
LittleCaesar3 on
Atheists: “If Christians really believed what they say they do, they’d go to any lengths to spread it!”
Christian: *spends 15 years in jail for trying to spread it*
Reddit Atheists: “LOL, Loser!”
Boxofcookies1001 on
The crazy thing though is this actually makes sense. Requiring people to register religious practices like churches and monitoring their fundraising prevents people like Joel olstean and the mega churches in the US from existing.
It’s like people forget how often religion is used in a predatory manner to grift people out of their money. Pastor living in million dollar homes and flying in private jets on the backs of their congregation giving money hoping they get blessed and saved.
Panzermensch911 on
“frees” … WTF telegraph? The CCP and their lackeys are the one who held them.
cg40k on
Goes to another country and breaks their laws. Gets jail time. Gets released after 15 years served. Seems he got off light.
PerpetuallyStartled on
If anyone is wondering WHY they are so batshit about this kind of stuff read up on the Taiping Rebellion.
Not that I am justifying any of this.
Carbuncle2024 on
I wonder if he learned anything? Let me guess, he’s on the next flight to Afghanistan? 🤧
RealMENwearPINK10 on
> arrest pedo pastors
😣🫸🏻
> arrest active pastors
😌👌🏻
The logic behind the idea aside, kinda sucks that someone who was maybe *actually* trying to help just… *gets arrested* meanwhile a certain pastor with child human trafficking charges got to live out in a mansion and a bunker while police were being held back by daft supporters brainwashed into becoming cult members
madmax797 on
Surprised he wasn’t executed
xdeltax97 on
Glad he’s out, although I’m sure he’s in for a semi culture shock when he returns! 15 years is quite a while.
Consistent-Sundae739 on
One thing that is good about China is no religion in their politics, how it should be
18 Comments
***The Telegraph reports:***
China has freed an American pastor after 15 years in jail for fundraising on behalf of a Christian church in Beijing.
David Lin, who the US claims was wrongfully detained, will be reunited with his family in Texas after nearly two decades apart.
Mr Lin, 68, was given a life sentence in 2009 for contract fraud after entering [China](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/china/) in 2006. His sentence was later reduced and he was scheduled for release in December 2029.
The Californian pastor tried to open a Christian church in Beijing in 2006, according to local media.
Under Chinese law, all recognised faiths must be registered and approved by the government and are closely monitored.
According to the Dui Hua Foundation, a human rights foundation with a focus in China, contract fraud is a crime frequently used against small church leaders, who raise funds to support their work.
**Read more:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/16/china-frees-us-pastor-after-15-years-christian-fundraising/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/16/china-frees-us-pastor-after-15-years-christian-fundraising/)
Imagine doing insane stuff like this when you have a family to take care of. Religion is a hell of a drug.
Let’s do this to all megachurch pastors.
A person can dream, no?
He was not wrongfully detained. He really did try to do what he was charged with. China gave him leniency but he will probably go back to Texas and say God was watching him.
What the fuck is wrong with the comments here, jfc
Turns out, reddit hates Christians more than communist dictatorships.
I for one, am shocked.
Christians being persecuted and people making fun of them for it? Wow… I was almost surprised
reddit: it’s awful what China is doing to the Uyghurs! imprisoning and oppressing a whole people just for trying to practice their religion, can you believe the hatred?
also Reddit: he tried to start a church? in China? fuck ‘em, he shoulda died in Chinese prison!
Atheists: “If Christians really believed what they say they do, they’d go to any lengths to spread it!”
Christian: *spends 15 years in jail for trying to spread it*
Reddit Atheists: “LOL, Loser!”
The crazy thing though is this actually makes sense. Requiring people to register religious practices like churches and monitoring their fundraising prevents people like Joel olstean and the mega churches in the US from existing.
It’s like people forget how often religion is used in a predatory manner to grift people out of their money. Pastor living in million dollar homes and flying in private jets on the backs of their congregation giving money hoping they get blessed and saved.
“frees” … WTF telegraph? The CCP and their lackeys are the one who held them.
Goes to another country and breaks their laws. Gets jail time. Gets released after 15 years served. Seems he got off light.
If anyone is wondering WHY they are so batshit about this kind of stuff read up on the Taiping Rebellion.
Not that I am justifying any of this.
I wonder if he learned anything? Let me guess, he’s on the next flight to Afghanistan? 🤧
> arrest pedo pastors
😣🫸🏻
> arrest active pastors
😌👌🏻
The logic behind the idea aside, kinda sucks that someone who was maybe *actually* trying to help just… *gets arrested* meanwhile a certain pastor with child human trafficking charges got to live out in a mansion and a bunker while police were being held back by daft supporters brainwashed into becoming cult members
Surprised he wasn’t executed
Glad he’s out, although I’m sure he’s in for a semi culture shock when he returns! 15 years is quite a while.
One thing that is good about China is no religion in their politics, how it should be