On 19 March, Siming District United Front Work Department (religious affairs bureau) sent a notice to each neighbourhood committee, asking them to strengthen the screening of unregistered churches.
The lead department asserts that consolidating the prohibition of “illegal religious activities”, will help prevent the recurrence of banned religious activities.
Source: ChinaAid
The notice specifically asked neighbourhood committees to organise staff to patrol and check mixed-use (residential-commercial hybrid) buildings and business hotels on Saturday evenings and Sundays when most religious activities occur.
Once an individual discovers an illegal religious activity, they are to report this “crime” to the district’s United Front Work Department to coordinate the investigation and penalty.
Several neighbourhoods explicitly listed in the notice, include Wucun, Binhai, Kaiyuan and Lujiang. The notice also directs staff to pay special attention to various other locations.
The reportedly illegal religious venues refer to those house churches who adhere to their beliefs and refuse to join the government-sanctioned Three-Self churches and do not register with the religious affairs bureau. Xiamen municipal government officials started cracking down on these house churches in 2019. Since then church buildings have been demolished. Church services have been raided, Christians have been beaten and arrested, and Christian tombstones have been damaged.
Let us pray.
- Thank the Lord for the courage of the believers in China. Pray they will remain faithful as they face escalating opposition.
- Ask the Lord to cover all Christians in these areas with His love and protection.
- Pray for the authorities responsible; that they will not fear the Gospel but will submit to the Lord’s merciful and sovereign hand.
God of the nations and ruler over all, we thank you for your power displayed in the Gospel of the lord Jesus Christ. We thank for the courage of the believers in China. We ask they will remain faithful as they face escalating opposition. Grant them patience and endurance of faith. We also ask you Lord to cover all Christians in these areas with your love and protection. We pray for the leaders of the CCP and authorities responsible in this particular area. We know that no-one is beyond the reach of your goodness; we plead that they will not fear the Gospel but will submit to your merciful and sovereign hand. Have mercy Lord, have mercy.
Lord thankyou for the faithfulness of our brothers and sisters in China. Please give them life, strength and hope in You- through the holy spirit. Be their glory and the lifter of their heads in times of oppression and great turmoil. I ask for You to protect all believers, fellowships, and pastors- cover them with Your blood. May no weapon formed against them prosper and every tongue which rises up against them be condemned. Lord- please be their shield and mighty fortress- an ever present help. Let Your name be magnified in China and be glorified through the body of Christ. Have mercy on those who have been attacked and make a way of escape- provide for their families. May those who oppose you Lord receive a spirit of salvation and come to a saving knowledge of the truth. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Lord we praise and thank you for those christians in China who remain steadfast and loyal to you, despite all the persecution they face. Lord please continue to protect those who belong to you. Yeshua show those in authority who do not know you, that you are indeed the Precious Passover Lamb, who died in their place, to set them free from sin, and give them eternal life. May they come to know you too, and repent and turn their lives over to you. In your Precious name we pray.