MINISTRY//Serving Jesus in China today
Our God is greater!
No matter what the obstacles we face as individuals, our God is greater. No matter what challenges our churches face, our God is greater. The baby whose birth brought “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10) is the guarantee.
One of 316NOW’s longtime students has shared with us some of the challenges he has experienced because of China’s clamping down on Christianity. As you read his comments, rejoice that the Father who adopted us remains in control. Through these difficulties, his commitment to grow Christ’s Church must be accomplished.
Our student’s experience
Sanctions against the church are very strict. Churches have to hang the national flag in their sanctuaries and sing the national anthem when gathering for worship. Last fall, during the celebration of China’s 70th birthday, the cathedral in a nearby city hosted a music party featuring revolutionary songs.
In China, everything in the church is subject to the government’s oversight. The internal workings of churches is restricted. Local officials manage the church's finances. Crosses are not allowed outside the church. Only one or two churches are allowed in each township.
Children cannot be ministered to. If a church has a children’s ministry, its license is revoked and the church becomes illegal.
In some places, churches are demolished. This includes churches in rural areas. If a church is demolished, it cannot be rebuilt.
Churches are not allowed to receive teachers from outside its area.
Some weak Christians are slowly leaving their churches. The people who believe in Jesus are old and sick. As a result, they die.
Because there are fewer licensed churches, we are seeing a rise in heretical teachers who operate underground. They are misleading God’s people. Their false teaching spreads easily. This is very troublesome.
What you can do: Pray that Chinese Christians find courage and hope in God’s Christmas grace. Ask the Ruler of the Universe to bless China’s government with wisdom and love for truth. But mostly, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).