China Government Moves to Formally Ban Missionary Activity

4/4/2024  (International Christian Concern)

New regulations released last week by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) impose severe restrictions on missionary activity in the country. The regulations, which take effect May 1, prohibit foreigners from preaching, sharing their faith, or establishing religious organizations without official government approval. The CCP has long viewed independent religious activity with suspicion, arguing that religious loyalty is at odds with the ultimate loyalty demanded by the Communist Party. The Protestant Three Self Church and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association are state-run churches that work to promote CCP propaganda and the personality cult surrounding country President Xi Jinping. Independent house churches, which operate outside the state-sponsored system, are often raided, and their members are arrested on charges of working against the interests of the state.

Please pray…

• Pray that the Lord will give Chinese leaders in the underground Church wisdom as they pastor their flocks and attempt to share the Gospel.

• Pray that the Lord will protect Christians who are being spied upon by the government.

• Pray that the persecuted Church will continue to grow in China and that millions more Chinese will trust in Jesus Christ.