MINISTRY / It's not getting better

"The situation is not getting better for the Church in China."

That's the word from one of our Chinese pastors.

Starting  before Covid, the Chinese government imposed increasing restrictions on religion. Children were barred from religious instruction. Christian schools were closed. Churches were closed; some were bulldozed. But Covid has given the government even more cover for regulating religions.

In the name of keeping people safe from infection,

• Gatherings of Christians are limited, if not curtailed.

• Unregistered churches (house churches) are more closely monitored and closed down than before. 

• Neighbors are encouraged to report unauthorized gatherings.

This is in addition to rules against online religious content and the Sinicization of religion. Sinicization is China's attempt to transform the Bible's teachings into a tool to support socialism.

China views Christianity not only as a Western religion but as a tool of the West to subvert Chinese communism. Some experts say that the growth of Christianity in China is particularly worrisome for the Communist Party. The Communist Party has almost 100 million members. By some estimates, the Christian Church will have 250 million members by 2030.

Of course, none of this changes Jesus' promise that "the gates of Hades will not overcome (his church)" (Matthew 16:18). Christians in China continue to share their faith in Jesus. And 316NOW's commitment to stand with them hasn't changed. No matter the obstacles, our God is greater.