ICC Note: According to an Open Doors Persecution watch list, China ranks number 33 where it is most difficult to practice the Christian faith. House churches are being forced to comply with government regulations to join the official church of China. Despite the great adversity the church in China are under, some Christians have taken a bold stance in rejecting the government order. In particular, one house church, “Proclaiming Christ,” did not bend to the government regulations. 

8/23/2016  Henan, China (Christian Today) – China’s crackdown on house churches not registered with the official state church is growing and now represents the “greatest challenge” faced by Christians in the region, according to latest reports.

Some unregistered churches are resisting the pressure to comply with government regulations, in spite of the risks of retribution.

China Aid, which works to support persecuted Christians in China, is reporting that one house church, Proclaiming Christ, in central Henan province has rejected a government order to cease its religious activities and remove its signs and worshipers intend to continue to defy the authorities.

Fang Guojian, a church attendee, told China Aid: “We are still gathering. We wrote a petition. After they saw it, they were afraid. In the letter, we wrote that we would go to Beijing; go to Beijing and appeal. Now, they are afraid, and they do not dare to provoke us.”

Once churches are registered with the official church, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, they become subject to government supervision. All services and other activities then have to be approved by the state.

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