MINISTRY / Just like the 1st Century

Uber surveillance

It is hard to gather even a small group of Christians together for worship or Bible study in China without those Christians being tracked. One Christian in China told 316NOW,

Most of us live in large apartment complexes. In order to enter the complex, guests have to check in with the security guard. That doesn't mean that the police will do anything with that information, but it is information that is available to them. It tells them who visits which apartments and how often they visit.

China also tracks its citizens with over 400 million CTV cameras. It follows them using apps on their phones. It keeps track of how much they spend and where they spend it. And for individuals who are judged to require continuous observation, there are undercover police officers.

Underground churches

In spite of the challenges, gathering small groups of Christians for worship, Bible study, and fellowship is the strategy 316NOW is promoting. The government-approved church will not support sound theology. A Confessional Lutheran movement will best spread across China through a network of small, underground churches.

This approach has solid precedence. It's the approach first through third-century Christianity took.

What you can do

Keep China's spiritual health in your prayers. Beginning January 22 and running through February 5, you have an exceptional time for prayer. Those are the dates for China's New Year and Spring Festivals. Those are also the dates for 316NOW's 15 Days of Prayer. Download a free daily prayer guide here. Learn more about 15 Days of Prayer by taping here.