A Chinese Christian pastor who vocally defended area churches when government officials removed crosses from buildings has been thrown in jail.

Pastor Huang Yizi was sentenced by the “People’s Court” of Pingyany County for “gathering crowds to disturb the social order.”  He was given one year in prison for the conviction.

Pastor Huang’s conflict with the local authorities was sparked by demands for the government to explain the beating of more than 50 parishioners in his government-sanctioned Fengwo Church.  The parishioners were attempting to stop the removal of a cross from Salvation Church in Pingyang.

The police stopped more than 400 Christians from attending the trial.  A witness said they stopped cars at first and then blocked off a perimeter of almost three football fields around the courthouse.

The destructions were revealed to be a government plan to stop the Christian churches from continuing their fast growth.