China church explodes despite persecution

By Sophia Aguilar —

The Chinese Communist Party is cracking down on Christian churches, but this is only bringing church growth, say organizers who aid the church from outside China.

“Last year we planted two more churches under the heaviest persecution,” says Bob Fu, of China Aid. “Many, many house churches have experienced revival.”

Chinese authorities are facing unprecedented challenges to their totalitarian regime. With Trump’s tariffs affecting adversely the Chinese economy, university students are taking to the streets to demand democracy. The pressure and pain is the moment people also turn to Jesus, says Jeff King, of International Christian Concern.

The communist party has tightened the screws on the church. The officially sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Church is required to square its hymns with Chinese doctrine and sing the communist anthem in their services. House churches are not allowed to collect tithes and offerings, and when they do, the pastors get charged with business fraud.

Lots of foreigners who work a business to operate as an underground missionary have been expelled from the country. “They’re totally being kicked and banned from serving in China,” says Fu. Video cameras with facial recognition software are placed in and around churches to track everyone entering and exiting.

Despite the persecution, the church continues to explode.

“I can never understand how the Marxist leaders don’t get this: the more you press down, the more the church spreads. Christians have a long history of dealing with chains and oppression,” King says. “Nothing stops them.”

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