NEWS//China harasses house churches

Multiple news sources report that China is continuing to target, harass, and shut down house churches.

Independent house churches, also called family churches, are illegal in China. Only churches affiliated with the Three-Self Patriot Movement (TSPM) are approved by the Chinese government. Unfortunately, the government uses Three-Self churches to promote its socialist philosophy while distorting the Bible's message of God's forgiveness in Jesus.

Among the reports of harassment are these:

• ChinaAid, a U.S.-based civil rights group, reports that in 2020 "CCP authorities did not ease their persecution of Christian churches and believers in mainland China. According to ChinaAid, 100% of house churches experienced some level of harassment in 2020." China Aid

• House churches are raided or shut down (March 24). Persecution.org

• China's campaign against illegal social groups, including house churches (March 26). Radio Free Asia

• China institutes new crackdown on 'illegal social organizations' to go after house churches (April 6). Christian Post

• China launches new crackdown on house churches (April 10). True North

• Leading house churches targeted in China (May 10). Bitter Winter