Persecution Continues in Zhejiang Province

The cross topping Baixi Church in

Yueqing County, Wenzhou,

was removed on May 6, 2014.

Churches throughout the province of Zhejiang are continuing to endure opposition from authorities. In total, more than 100 churches have faced various forms of pressure in recent weeks.

In April, the Sanjiang Church was completely destroyed. (For more information on this demolition, visit our website.) Additional churches have been threatened with demolition even if they only share about the opposition they are facing with any outsiders or if they support other area churches.

Furthermore, in mid-May over 50 crosses were removed from church buildings and some congregations were ordered to stop meeting for worship. This month, several house churches were raided by authorities.

The opposition against the church in Zhejiang is in part due to a governmental campaign against "illegal structures." However, sources believe that the opposition is in fact a crackdown on religion.

Ask God to make His presence known to all believers in Zhejiang, strengthening them through the ministry of His Holy Spirit so they will remain firm in their faith. Pray that the ongoing persecution in this province will raise international awareness about religious freedom issues in China, prompting Chinese authorities to allow believers to worship freely. In the meantime, ask God to use the opposition as a means to encourage the growth of His church in both number and faithfulness.

Please visit our China Country Report for more information on the persecuted church in this nation.

China

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.