RevelationMedia and ChinaAid Launch Petition to Urge President Trump to Help Bring Chinese American Pastor Home
Campaign seeks 100,000 signatures ahead of Trump-Xi meeting on September 24 for the release of Pastor John Cao
RICHARDSON, Texas – RevelationMedia, which produces, licenses, translates and distributes engaging Bible-based media, and ChinaAid, a Christian human rights organization committed to promoting religious freedom and the rule of law in China, have partnered to petition for the release of Pasto John Cao, who has been unlawfully held and not been permitted to leave China since 2017.
RevelationMedia and ChinaAid have set a goal of receiving 100,000 signatures prior to President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24, 2026. The campaign seeks to raise awareness of Pastor Cao’s continued detention, urging Trump and U.S. leaders to advocate for his return home.
“Our request is remarkably simple: we’re asking President Trump to help us bring this man home,” said Steve Cleary, founder and CEO of RevelationMedia. “This is a humanitarian plea. Pastor Cao is not asking to escape a prison sentence. He already served it. Every single day.”
After settling in the U.S. and becoming a pastor in North Carolina, Cao returned to his home country of China as a young adult where he was widely known for his humanitarian work aiding the poor and establishing educational projects to help alleviate poverty among local minority groups. Over time, his work expanded into the neighboring region of Myanmar, efforts that were publicly known by Chinese officials.
On March 5, 2017, Cao was arrested for “organizing an illegal border crossing” between China and Myanmar and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Experts believe Cao’s arrest and sentencing were related to the Communist Party’s attempts to control the house church movement. While Cao was released on March 3, 2024, the Chinese government has since denied his return to the United States by withholding his I.D. and passport.
“Pastor Cao has paid an enormous price for following Jesus, and he and his family have suffered enough,” said Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid. “It’s time that we rally together and come to his aid once and for all.”
Since his release in 2024, Cao has lived with his mother in Changsha, China, where he has been battling an aggressive stage 4 cancer diagnosis. During a recent hospital stay, Cao’s wife and children, who currently reside in the United States, were able to visit him in Changsha on April 26, 2026, after being separated from him for nine years. Cao has undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but doctors are unsure how much time he has left, making the campaign even more urgent.
RevelationMedia and ChinaAid are calling on fellow Americans and Christians to support the release of Pastor John Cao, asking the U.S. government, specifically President Trump, to petition President Xi and the Chinese authorities to return Cao’s passport to ensure his safe and timely return home and reunification with his family.
“By God’s grace, one simple act of compassion can allow this man to spend the remainder of his days with his family,” said Cleary. “Signing the petition takes less than a minute, and we are praying that others will stand with us to bring this selfless, servant of the Lord home.”
To join the movement and sign the petition, visit BringCaoHome.com.
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About RevelationMedia
RevelationMedia is a 501c3 that exists to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus through visual, audio, and print media that is easily and freely accessible in a language they can understand. It aspires to live out the Great Commission by distributing Christian media that helps others know God and make Him known. Learn more at RevelationMedia.com.
About ChinaAid
ChinaAid is an international non-profit Christian human rights organization committed to promoting religious freedom and the rule of law in China. Founded in 2002, the organization works to expose human rights abuses, encourage persecuted believers, and equip legal and civil advocates. For more information, visit chinaaid.org.
Contact:
Lauren Briggs
KC Communications
lauren@kccommunications.co
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Religion News Association
