Visiting Evangelicals Silent on China's Persecuted House Churches

The Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD) is dismayed at the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)'s having ignored religious persecution in China during its recent visit. Instead, it spoke only of cooperation with the government-registered church while disregarding restrictions by the communist regime on unofficial churches. The vast majority of Chinese Christians, conservatively estimated at 80 million in number, worship in unregistered congregations that meet in homes and other settings.

In the past week alone, leaders of the Chinese House Church Alliance were detained by the authorities in Hebei province according to China Aid. House churches in both Beijing and Shanghai have also been closed recently by the police. In Shanxi province, authorities demolished the Fushan House Church's building, giving church leaders long prison sentences. In December, a Ugyhur Christian convert from Islam was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for his faith.

In response, IRD's Religious Liberty Program will launch Ten Thursdays of Prayer for China's Church beginning on January 21 in Religious Liberty Program director Faith McDonnell's e-newsletter, Faith on Freedom and on the IRD website. Each Thursday will have a special focus with information from China Aid. McDonnell is asking for aggressive intercessory prayer on behalf of the Church in China.

IRD Religious Liberty Program Director Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:

"We are glad that the WEA was able to minister to and encourage China's officially registered church. But we cannot do service to one part of the Body of Christ at the cost of doing disservice to another.

"One would not be able to discern the presence of any other church in China from the WEA's report. We find it staggering that there was no acknowledgment of the 80 million or more Chinese house church Christians or what they face from the Chinese government.

"Acknowledgment of the Chinese house churches, and of those who are in prison for their faith, is our duty as fellow Christians.

"We see the inability of good intentions and legislation to stop the persecution of Christians around the world. We see what appears to be a juggernaut of policies and politics crushing freedom and democracy. But have we seen the power of God released in these circumstances by faithful and constant prayer? We must get serious about praying for the persecuted church."