MINISTRY / Penalized for their faith

Christians in China are often penalized for their faith. This is an example.

In addition to our higher-level Bible institute courses for church leaders, 316NOW offers several online women's Bible studies. These studies are led by Confessional Lutheran women who live in the United States. The women in their classes live in China.

One of those Bible study leaders shares this story.

Over the course of four years of sharing lessons in God's Word and praying for one another, I can truly refer to my students as my friends. We are sisters in Christ.

One of my students (let's call her Baona) shared with me her concerns about her husband's faith. He is a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but he also attends worship with Baona every week.

If he consents to be baptized, his name must appear on the church's list of members. He has refused to be baptized. The reason: he knows that if his name appears on a church membership list, the CCP will be notified. That would endanger, if not destroy, his career.

So, even though he is a Christian, he will not join the church or be baptized. But he is committed to continue to attend worship with his wife. At home, he prays with her.

In order to advance in many careers in China, membership in the CCP is required. For Christians, that means either giving up on their career or hiding their faith while working in their career.

Please take time, right now, to pray that the Spirit provides Chinese Christians who wrestle with these challenges to their faith Jesus' honoring courage and wisdom. Thank you.