Authorities in China’s Shandong province have banned online preaching and ordered the eradication of non-official churches.
Shandong’s two state-run Christian organisations, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and China Christian Council, released a statement on 23 February. In it, they claimed “supervision departments” ordered all online preaching cease and churches that gather in secret be eliminated.
In addition, it suggests officials should “guide” Christians “in other ways, with the caveat of not gathering together!”
The notice does not specify what these other ways include.
Source: ChinaAid
- Pray the Chinese believers will not be discouraged. Pray they will take strength from the Lord and His Word.
- Pray the church will continue to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29) and not stop meeting nor sharing the Gospel with others.
- Ask God to work in the hearts of the authorities in China. May He draw many to himself.
Post your prayer in the comments below.
Our Father in Heaven, look with favour upon your peoples in the nation of China as they face ever increasing pressure and persecution for the sake of Christ. Help them by the power of your Spirit not to experience discouragement but be ever looking to you and your means of grace for strength and the courage to faithfully witness to Christ and gather together. Pour out your Spirit on the Chinese nation and its leaders and work repentance and faith in their stone hearts. Have mercy O Lord.