Tightening Restrictions, Continued Work

Even as regulations on religious freedom tighten, Bibles for China hopes to see 11 distributions within the next year.

(Photo courtesy of Tomas Roggero on Flickr at https://bit.ly/36FJuvD)

Kurt Rovenstine, President of Bibles for China says, “And the challenge with that, is that because of some of the, the new presence – I guess, is the best way that I would describe it for our particular ministry – of the government in and around the church, it makes it a little more difficult. We’ve already had to make an adjustment on one of our first distributions because of that presence. That presence is a little more scrutiny.”

That increased scrutiny means that as a non-national organization, Bibles for China has to be a little more careful about what they are doing. They need to rely more on local Chinese partners and step back from certain activities. For instance Bibles for China no longer sends Westerners to local churches when Bibles are presented.

But Rovenstine says this doesn’t change the mission.

The Same Commitment

“What hasn’t changed really much [is] what we do; other than we are no longer there. And so we are providing resources for the Chinese Church and the leaders there to secure Bibles to, you know, distribute as the Chinese church, not as the foreigners coming in and passing them out.”

He continues, “It’s still the Bible that’s printed in China at Amity Press that we keep a very close eye on to make sure you know that it’s still the Scripture and it hasn’t been sensitized in any way nothing has been added to it.”

Stepping back has changed the dynamic in many places. Some places need additional space, yet in other areas new doors have opened.

“Increased Opportunity”

(Image Courtesy of Bibles for China)

In fact, deciding not to visit in person made a big difference in two areas. Rovenstine says, “Well, immediately when we decided not to visit, we had two new areas open up to us because the pastors felt as if then they could accept the help that we were giving to them without us having to come into their area. It reduced the scrutiny that that was upon them. So we saw that almost immediately, just an increased opportunity.”

Get Involved

Continued work, even under new rules, means continued spread of the Gospel. Rovenstine asks for prayer for Bibles for China as they seek to honor Christ even under a tightening regime.

“And so we want to be able to take the Word of God in ways that we currently aren’t. So that we can think creatively, that we can be good stewards of the gifts that folks give and be able to continue to get Bibles into the hands of folks who haven’t had them before. And that we can do it with integrity, and that we can do it with confidence that the Scripture we’re distributing is the unchanged Word of God.”

Please pray for the spread of the Gospel in rural China. Pray that it would be distributed unhindered and that God would bless and protect His workers in China.

To learn more, click here.

Header Image Courtesy of Bibles for China.

Available or Accessible?

In every mission field the questions of availability and accessibility must be considered. Availability speaks to the possibility of attaining Scripture. Can people find the Word of God, in Chinese, in China?

(Amity Press. Photo courtesy of Bibles for China)

Accessibility speaks to how easy it is to get the Bible. Can anyone get it, or is Scripture only accessible if you meet certain criteria and live in a certain place?

An Accessibility Issue

Wendell Rovenstine, President of Bibles for China, says the Bible is available. “A lot of times I think people become confused. The availability of Bibles within China is still fair. They’re available and people can still receive Bibles that are legal, that are printed in China at Amity Press. We at Bibles for China make and provide those Bibles in the rural Chinese communities through the associations and networks we have there.”

Accesibility, on the other hand, is harder to come by.

Rovenstine acknowledges that different ministries go about the problem of accessibility in different ways. Bibles for China commits to legally spreading the Word of God. Through their ministry, many churches and Christians in rural areas have access to Scripture that wasn’t afforded prior.

However, Rovenstine admits that outside the registered Church, China shuts down any kind of ministry. The window of opportunity for foreign support of national believers is closing.

A Need for Study Tools

So, while they continue to focus on providing Scripture, Bibles for China also works toward fulfilling requests for discipling materials.

(All photos courtesy of Bibles for China)

“They need Bibles, but they’re telling us also that with the Bibles they need resources. In other words, the need study Bibles. They need John Maxwell leadership Bibles, they need commentaries, they need some sort of something that they give the individuals with preaching points and leaders within the registered Church in China.”

Bibles for China obtained the proper permits to give these things out within the registered Church. This increased accessibility of the Gospel in rural areas.

It can be difficult to work within the parameters of what the government deems as correct for Christianity, but Rovenstine still sees the registered churches as a way to get God’s Word in more hands.

“I’m not being naïve to what I read and what I see and what I know. But we are being intentionally involved in accomplishing the delivery of Bibles within China that are legal.”

Stepping Back

As Bibles for China grows, they have seen more and more national leaders take up the call to distribute Bibles. Chinese Christians take the lead on Bibles for China projects. Locals see the importance of Scripture and can work without as much suspicion as outsiders.

And as policies on foreigners tighten, locals may have to be the only ones leading the way. That’s why Rovenstine encourages Christians to pray for their brothers and sisters in China.

Please Pray

Pray for religious leaders as they struggle to remain true to the Bible and effectively minister in an increasingly closed off atmosphere.

Pray also that God would open doors not only for more Chinese to come to Christ, but for Chinese missionaries to go to other places with the Word of God. They have a heart for spreading His truth.

Pray that Bibles for China would be allowed to continue their efforts and consider joining their ministry by donating here.

Header photo courtesy of Bibles for China.