CHINA: Former Prisoner, Pastor John Cao Hospitalised Due to Late-Stage Cancer

Source: ChinaAid; Voice of the Martyrs Australia

Pastor John Cao, who has long been engaged in missionary and humanitarian work in Southeast Asia and along China’s border regions, was recently urgently admitted to Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital due to a worsening condition. According to visits by Christians and multiple sources, Pastor Cao has been diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer, a spinal tumour, with cancer cells having spread to his bone marrow.

After completing his prison sentence for his involvement in ministry activity and being released in 2024, Pastor Cao returned to Changsha to care for his nearly 90-year-old mother. Over the past three years, despite his advanced age and declining health, he continued to support local churches, contribute to Gospel ministries and care for youth. However, years of hardship and imprisonment for his faith have severely impacted his health. Currently, tumour compression on his nerves has caused him intense pain while walking, sitting, or lying down.

Pastor Cao’s wife and children currently reside in the United States. It is reported that due to his passport being withheld by authorities, he has been unable to reunite with his family for more than a decade. Even during major life events such as his son’s marriage and the birth of a grandchild, he was unable to travel abroad due to restrictions. Recently, his mother visited relatives in the United States, leaving only his elderly sister at home to care for him. Facing heavy medical needs and significant expenses, the family is under extreme pressure.

As Pastor Cao does not have social medical insurance, his treatment costs are currently being covered entirely through donations from Christians. Various civil groups and church communities are closely monitoring his condition and are calling on relevant authorities, on humanitarian grounds, to return his passport so that he may travel to the United States to reunite with his family in this critical stage of his life and receive further treatment with their support.

• Thank the Lord for Pastor Cao’s life and ministry over many years. Thank the Lord for sustaining him through hardship and imprisonment for his faith in Christ.

• Pray for the Lord’s favour to be on Pastor Cao, asking the Lord to lift the restrictions placed upon him for his faith so that he may be reunited with his family and receive treatment in the US.

• Pray for church leaders and pastors across China who face ill health due to years of harassment and imprisonment because of their faith in Christ. Ask the Lord to strengthen them each day as they continue serving Him.