Nestled along the picturesque Tianshui River, a tributary of the Huai River, lies the Tianhe Fishery in Yuhui District, Bengbu City, Anhui Province.

Renowned for its scenic beauty and high-quality aquatic products, the river also serves as a source of drinking water for Bengbu’s residents.

Recently, a heartwarming story has been circulating among the workers at the fishery: the long-lost Li sisters—Li Xiaoying, Li Shanyun, and Li Shifeng (all pseudonyms)—have returned home after years of being led astray by the Church of Almighty God. The reunion of this once-broken family of six siblings is a testament to the age-old saying, “A prodigal’s return is worth more than gold.” And this once-broken family has truly found their way back to happiness.

Deceived by the Cult and Led Astray

Fifty years ago, the Li family of eight lived a peaceful life at the Tianhe Fishery. The elderly parents worked tirelessly to raise their four daughters and two sons, all of whom eventually secured jobs, started families, and contributed to the harmony of the extended household.

However, around 2010, Li Xiaoying (the second sister), Li Shanyun (the third), and Li Shifeng (the youngest), encountered members of the Church of Almighty God during a Christian gathering.

The cult members claimed that Christianity was outdated and that true peace and salvation could only be found in spreading the gospel of the Church of Almighty God.

They lured the sisters with promises of divine care and belonging, labeling everything outside their teachings as false and evil.

The three sisters fell for the cult’s lies, and under its influence, sacrificing their personal lives and abandoning their families to prove their devotion to “God”.

They left their homes one after another to dedicate themselves full-time to the cult’s activities, leaving their children to grow up in fractured households with only their fathers for support.

Over the following decade, the sisters’ elder siblings and parents searched desperately for them, but their efforts were in vain. The heartbreak took a heavy toll, and their parents passed away with the pain of separation still fresh in their hearts.

Apprehended and Rehabilitated

With the public security organ intensifying their crackdown on the Church of Almighty God, the second sister, Li Xiaoying, and the third sister, Li Shanyun, were apprehended in 2022 for their involvement in related activities.

Through the educational assistance of volunteers, both sisters came to recognize the true nature of the Church of Almighty God. The third sister actively contributed to the effort by reinforcing her second sister’s understanding, helping her make a complete ideological break from the Church of Almighty God cult at a deeper level.

The Younger Sister Found and Brought Back to the Right Path

Through their awakening and helping others, the second sister, Li Xiaoying, and the third sister, Li Shanyun, fully recognized the destructive nature of the Church of Almighty God.

Breaking free from the shadow of the cult, the two sisters deeply regretted the harm their misguided actions had caused to their loved ones, their failure to honor their parents, and their neglect of their children.

They also grew increasingly concerned about their younger sister, Li Shifeng, who was still wandering under the cult’s influence and dedicating herself to its activities.

Taking action, the two sisters abandoned work opportunities to search for their younger sister. Their persistence paid off when, on July 27, 2023, they finally found Li Shifeng.

For years, Li Shifeng had been away from home, engaged in cult activities.

However, the cult resented her for failing to meet their expectations, citing her lack of financial “offerings” and reliance on “church” provisions. Deeming her performance substandard, they relegated her to “spiritual cultivation”, which involved solitary prayer and study.

After over a decade of arduous devotion, all she received in return was cold rejection. Fearful of breaking free from the cult’s control or abandoning her “God” to return home, she lived in constant internal conflict and anguish, dreading divine retribution for the oaths she had repeatedly sworn.

After finding their sister, Li Xiaoying and Li Shanyun shared their own experiences to persuade her to turn herself in. Eventually, Li Shifeng made the right choice, and accompanied by her family, voluntarily surrendered to the public security organs and confessed her actions. With the guidance and education of volunteers, she successfully underwent rehabilitation.

Family Reunion and New Beginnings

After seeing through the lies of the Church of Almighty God, the three sisters expressed their heartfelt emotions, describing their years under the cult’s influence as a living nightmare.

They recalled being deceived by promises of “peace and salvation in the afterlife” and living a ghostly, inhuman existence while fulfilling so-called “duties” in faraway places.

Despite their misfortune, there was a glimmer of hope. The children of the three sisters, despite their mothers’ departure, did not fall into despair. Instead, they maintained a positive and resilient attitude toward life.

Furthermore, the fishing community did not discriminate against the sisters. After meeting the necessary conditions, the sisters were even granted retirement benefits, ensuring a stable life in their later years.