China is a big country, and Christians in different regions face different challenges. Government-approved churches are recognized by the Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), meaning:
- self-governed, self-funded, and self-propagated (with no foreign our outside missions influence);
- patriotic, with primary allegiance to The People’s Republic.
House or underground churches, not under the TSPM umbrella, are considered illegal. In many places they operate without interference, but harassment is always a possibility.
The Chinese government is investing in mass surveillance (cameras, facial recognition, big data). According to BillionBibles.com,
‘The Chinese government will soon track virtually all movement and behavior of all of its citizens, . . . including who attends church, buys Bibles, and where those Bibles are taken.”
Let’s pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in China,
You, Lord, are the God who sees all. Look down on your children in China and protect them from those who watch them with evil intent. We know you hear their cries for wisdom, even when the words are not spoken aloud. Assure them of your love and grace.
Ding hao!
I posted this over the weekend, and on Monday I read two articles about increased persecutios of “unapproved” churches. I guess it’s my call to prayer.