Gou Hongguo, a faith based human rights advocate, was given a three year suspended prison sentence, meaning he will avoid jail.
He pleaded guilty to charges that he had gone abroad to be taught how to turn Chinese people against the communist government and start an uprising.
It's believed he may have been offered a guarantee he'd avoid prison time if he admitted the accusation and promised not to appeal at the court in the northern city of Tianjin.
Hongguo had protested at the removal of church crosses and the demolition of Christian places of worship.
His sentence is very lenient in comparison to the usual punishment given to Christian advocates.
Earlier this week another Christian activist, Hu Shigen, an elder at Holy Love Church in the city of Jinhua, was jailed for seven years for similar charges.