USA (MNN) — American pastor David Lin is finally home. Now 68, Lin was detained by the Chinese government nearly two decades ago, accused of contract fraud.

(Photo courtesy of Bibles for China)

Lin had applied for and gained permission from the Chinese government to open a Christian church in Beijing. But in 2006, it all fell apart.

He was detained and handed a life prison sentence in 2009. The United States State Department considered Lin one of three Americans “wrongfully detained” by China.

Advocates working on Lin’s behalf succeeded in getting his sentence reduced, but the unexpected turn came with his release.

Bibles for China’s Kurt Rovenstine says a win is a win. “As Americans and as Christians, we want to celebrate that, in the midst of some of the struggles that we have in dealing with Communist China officials. When something goes right, we want to applaud that — not the detainment, but the fact that this person has been released.”

As Lin acclimates to freedom, there’s a lot to process.

“I can’t imagine coming back to family and relationships — just the learning curve that he’s going to have in coming back to the United States and looking at all the changes,” says Rovenstine. “There’s a huge readjustment there, so I think that’s a matter of prayer.”

(Photo courtesy of Bibles for China)

Continue praying for those involved in Gospel work in China. Cultural differences between the West and the Chinese government can be challenging.

“China is still a difficult place to live and to do ministry,” says Rovenstine, “especially for us Westerners who don’t understand much of the culture that many Chinese just accept as a reality. So we struggle a little more with some of the restrictions and some of the difficulties of life, whereas the Chinese folks just kind of take it in stride.”

Pray for wisdom for ministries as they walk alongside the Chinese Church and celebrate what God is doing in China.

Support Bibles for China’s work for the Gospel here.

Header photo courtesy of Ehsan Habashi/Unsplash.