MINISTRY / Covid and Christianity

Covid restrictions are lifting in China, but restrictions on religion continue.

Lockdowns are easing

The lockdown of Shanghai residents due to China's zero-tolerance policy toward Covid will come to an end on June 1. Many of Shanghai's 25 million citizens have been mostly confined to their homes for two months.

Each week 316NOW compiles news about China that caught our attention. Tap here to see those archives.

In Beijing, Covid restrictions are also loosening. On Sunday (May 30), libraries, museums, theaters, and gyms were allowed to reopen in districts that have seen no community Covid cases for seven consecutive days. Restaurant dining continues to be banned throughout the city.

Religious restrictions

Unfortunately, restrictions on Christianity and other religions continue. During Covid, China has prohibited many religious gatherings. During lockdowns, all religious gatherings were forbidden. China has continued to ferret out and shutter Christian house churches and groups in other unapproved religions. It continues to remove crosses from registered churches. It continues to "sinicize" the message of the Bible to reshape Christianity into a tool for socialism.

Impact on 316NOW groups

316NOW has seen the groups it works with erode because China has made it illegal for Christians to meet with each other. Some of our students are hesitant to attend our classes, even though we use a secure online teaching platform.  Many of our students are taking a break from worship and other joint Christian practices. They are waiting until government pressure eases before they resume their gatherings.

What you can do: Prayer remains powerful and effective against anti-Christian forces (James 5:16). Pray for the spiritual well-being of Christians in China and for the continued spread of the gospel there.