MINISTRY//Chinese challenges

Barnabas Aid is a non-denominational, Christian not-for-profit organization. It provides "financial support to projects that help Christians where they suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution as a consequence of their faith." China is one of the countries where they care for persecuted believers.

In a recent publication, Barnabas Aid observed, 

China…has grown ever more authoritarian under the rule of President Xi Jinping.

A disturbing trend in recent times has been the emergence of digital technologies, such as facial-recognition software, as a tool for authoritarian persecution. Surveillance cameras were forcibly installed in churches in Jiangxi and Henan Provinces last year to monitor who attends and what is being preached. The cameras are linked to "Sharp Eyes," a countrywide surveillance system providing total coverage "across all regions." 

Pastors must now follow strict government guidelines on sermon content, and all pastors and other religious leaders are added to "a database of religious personnel," listing all those authorized by the state to perform religious ministry. Church leaders not registered in the database will not be permitted to undertake ministry.

These restrictions have impacted the Christians 316NOW works with. Some of our students are uneasy about attending churches where their presence is monitored. They have become more cautious about attending our classes. They want assurance that their classmates are not going to report them to the government. Christian groups that are not part of the government-sanctioned Protestant church are operating further underground. A number of the pastors who are part of the government-sanctioned church have stopped attending our Bible institute. 

What you can do: Pray for the Church in China that the Christians there stand firm in their faith because our gracious God is greater than any obstacles. Pray that persecution helps the gospel to spread, just as happened in other areas and at other times. Pray for the Chinese government that its leaders are brought to trust the gospel.