Yabo is a 4-year-old Christian boy in China. His father, Cai, was waiting at a bus stop one day when three Chinese policemen approached him. The policemen tied Cai’s feet and pushed him into a van. A couple of weeks later, they came and took away Yabo’s mother.

Many Restrictions
Yabo’s father is a pastor. His mother, Xiao Yunfei, helps her husband in his ministry. Yabo is very special to his parents. (Yabo and Pastor Cai are shown in the photo, which was taken before Yabo’s parents went to jail.)

Yabo has no brothers or sisters. The government of China discourages most families from having more than one child because it fears the country will become overcrowded. In free countries parents are allowed to have as many children as they want or as many as God gives them.

In communist countries citizens have fewer rights and freedoms. China’s communist government tries to control public worship and restrict what pastors teach. Government officials restrict what printers can print.

Yabo’s mother and father went to jail because of these restrictions.

Playing a Trick
“There is no so-called persecution of religious people in China,” said Ye Xiaowen, a government official. He said Pastor Cai was not arrested for Christian activities.

Pastor Cai’s lawyer does not agree. “The government played a trick,” the lawyer said. “They didn’t arrest them for spreading their religion, as that would have drawn too much attention. So they charged them with running an illegal business.”

Yabo’s mother and father printed Bibles and Christian books, then gave them to Chinese Christians. A Chinese judge decided their printing was an “illegal business.” Pastor Cai’s lawyers argued that he would have to sell the books for money if the printing was a “business.” The lawyers said Pastor Cai gave the books away free. The judge decided Yabo’s parents were guilty anyway.

"First Follow Your God"
Yabo and his parents miss each other very much when they are apart. But Yabo is blessed with a godly grandmother who takes care of him while his parents are away. Yabo’s father is her son. “I pray for him,” she said, “and for all of us. We are simple people, but we do know this: ‘In the Bible it says follow your leaders, but first follow your God.’”

Yabo and his family face many difficulties as Christians living in a country where Christian activities are controlled by the government. “The Communist Party wants us to obey them,” said Yabo’s grandmother. “They don’t want people to hear the real words of God, because they know the people will find something new to believe in.”

Please ask God to give Yabo strength as he continues to grow and learn about the cost of following Jesus. Pray his parents and grandmother will have God’s peace and joy in the midst of their struggles.

(Sources include: Compass Direct, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, China Aid Association, and VOM sources)