'I NEVER REGRET answering the call of God. I never regret sacrificing completely for God,' sang Lin Junhua, waving his hands to encourage more than 50 fellow Christians to join in.
But this was no ordinary religious gathering. Instead of a church, these members of a mainland underground Christian group praised God outside the closed gate of a small court in Fujian province. Inside the building, on a cold morning last Monday, three of their 'brothers' were on trial for smuggling Bibles.
Yinxi People's Court in Fuqing city jailed Hong Kong businessman Lai Kwong-keung, 38, for two years and mainlanders Lin Xifu and Yu Zhudi, both 42, for three years after they were convicted of smuggling thousands of Bibles to a group known as the Shouters. The trio were also fined 150,000 yuan (HK$141,000) each.
The trial started at 8.30am, but the followers emerged just after 8am when they learned their representatives were not allowed into the court, although they claimed officials had previously promised they could enter.
Mixing in the crowd were Hong Kong journalists observing quietly and plain-clothed public security officers watching the church members and journalists closely.
All were aware of each other's presence. But Mr Lin, 46, continued his singing and sometimes shouted out prayers. The crowd responded: 'Oh Jesus Christ, amen'. Their singing and praying added to the tense atmosphere. Two plain-clothed officers finally walked towards Mr Lin, grabbed him by the arms and escorted him to a car parked nearby.
