China (MNN) – Thousands of crosses and Bibles have been destroyed by the government in China since new regulations went underway in February.
Persecution in China
Both registered and unregistered churches have reportedly been subject to persecution.
Express reported that at a church in Henan, the cross was taken off the building. It also reported that police raided a summer camp for children in Gansu and claimed the camp was holding illegal Christian activities.
Further, reports say that Christians and Muslims have been sent to re-education camps, which train people to be loyal to the Chinese Communist Party rather than their religion.
“Basically, the Bible is being attacked by all nations. The Bible is God’s Holy Word,” Bibles for China’s Wendell Rovenstine says.
“It’s tragic that everybody doesn’t embrace the Bible. It’s tragic that everybody can’t have the Bible…The Bible is being confiscated, and kept from delivery, and burned, and that exists.”
Standing Against Religious Persecution
Some believers, however, are not remaining quiet as the Bible and their rights have been restricted.
Recently, 344 pastors signed a statement titled “A Declaration of the Christian Faith.”
The statement declares that the pastors are both Chinese and Christians. It goes on to say that the pastors believe the Bible is the Word of God and that the Churches are eager to “walk the path of the cross of Christ.”
CBN News reported that increased religious persecution in China has sparked interests in Washington D.C.
U.S. Representative Chris Smith said in a press release, “Burning Bibles, destroying churches, and jailing Muslims by the million is only part of the Chinese Communist Party’s audaciously repressive assault on conscience and religion.”
Bibles for China’s Work
Overall, Rovenstine says there’s a tremendous void for the Word of God in China and more than one million people in the nation still need the Word of God.
(Photo courtesy of Bibles for China via Facebook)
Rovenstine explains that ministries, churches, and believers remain passionate about sharing the Gospel and each organization has its own way of giving and receiving the Bible. However, not every way follows the regulations of the Chinese government, which creates problems.
“The family Church, unregistered Church, the underground Church, the registered Church within China, all of those have ways of getting Bibles and putting Bibles into Churches and into communities where there are believers,” Rovenstine says.
“If it’s a Bible that is not printed within China, that’s a Bible that becomes difficult for someone to have. Those Bibles are kept, and reviewed, and burned.”
As Bibles for China yearns to continue delivering Bibles to registered churches, they are changing and adjusting their work so they can follow the regulations of the Chinese government.
As a result, Rovenstine says Bibles for China’s work is not being diminished.
“We just want to work within the policies of the government with the registered Church that exists there to provide them Bibles and to see the Bibles are placed in rural China where they’re not available… [Bibles] are printed at Amity Press within China. Those Bibles are all being delivered. Those Bibles are all within the local Church of the registered Church.”
Praise God that Bibles are still printed within China and are being delivered to believers and churches. Pray for persecuted Christians and churches in the nation and for Bibles for China’s work.
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