What happened
Religious persecution advocates have expressed disappointment after a recent meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as there is no indication that the issue of persecuted Christians in China was discussed.
Advocates, including Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs, had urged President Trump to prioritize the issue of China's persecuted Christians during the meeting. Nettleton stated that he had hoped the topic would be part of the discussion, given the ongoing persecution of Christians in China.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators also called for pressure to be exerted to release detained pastors and other people of faith. Senator Ted Budd noted that eight leaders of Zion Church remain behind bars in China due to the country's attack on religious freedom.
Despite some successes in U.S. diplomacy, such as the release of Pastor Ezra Jin in July, persecution against believers in China has increased. Over 200 church leaders are currently behind bars, including Pastor John Cao, who is suffering from late-stage prostate cancer and has not been allowed to leave China despite having a green card to the U.S.
Nettleton is encouraging Christians in America to pray and to let their leaders know that they care about the issue of religious persecution in China.
