China

While China has dropped considerably on our World Watch List, the limitations for Christians are still severe. Christianity is considered a threat to the atheistic government, and evangelism outside the Three Self registered church walls is illegal. But there are many improvements. In general, church leaders report that Public Security Beureau officials have been more courteous and less intimidating when "inviting" them to the police station for questioning. Church leaders (from both registered and unregistered groups) are now able to travel more frequently and freely outside China, in order to participate in regional and global Christian conferences. Officially printed Bibles and now sold through church bookstores, but there are still shortages of Bibles and in the rural areas 70-80% of house church Christians live.

Examples of Persecution:

• Government officials have repeatedly denied Shouwang Church access to a permanent worship place. House church Christians determined to support the church have been detained and threatened.

Open Doors is: training church, ministry and youth leaders with ministry and skills, establishing an indigenous literature ministry, strengthening the minority church with resources, training, Bibles and through SED projects,and partnering with other like-minded agencies to further the Gospel in China.

Please Pray:

• Thank the Lord for the recent ability to officially print and publish Bibles within China. Pray that they would reach rural areas as well as the cities
• For the house church leaders to be wise in the way they lead their congregations
• For the training programs for key leaders in the country, that they would be better equipped to teach the Bible