Many residents of Chinese towns and cities live in apartments in small communities called "xiaoqu" - literally translated as small district. Most xiaoqu are surrounded by walls and have a main gate with guards to monitor the flow of pedestrians, bikes, and cars. Many xiaoqu have cameras at the gates. Only residents of the xiaoqu are allowed free access by using a digital smart card, and visitors must sign in or be accompanied by a resident.
As you can imagine, this makes house church meetings even more difficult for believers who wish to enter a home from outside the xiaoqu. Management will quickly call the police if a house church meeting is discovered.
It's because of this reality that we received a prayer request from China.
Some believers were called in for questioning numerous times and ordered to notify the local police if they were visited by anyone from outside the local area. They live in a xiaoqu.
###, an Open Doors partner from another town, was unaware of the authorities' attention and visited the small house church in their xiaoqu to encourage them and to do some teaching. The visit was brief, but the local believers were immediately summoned for questioning. "Why didn't you contact us immediately?" the authorities demanded. Obviously, the cameras and surveillance network had identified ### as a non-local.
On his arrival back home, ### himself was contacted and told to return to the town where this incident occurred for further questioning. ### is now conflicted about what to do. Returning could mean some sort of punishment or even detention. At the same time, there are so many other isolated believers who rely on his visits to stay strong.
Please pray with ### and Christians like him as they navigate the many restrictions that hinder their freedom of worship.
Pray for Chinese Christians who must 'count the cost' of following Jesus on a daily basis, that they will be committed and bold.
Ask God to give wisdom, joy, and resilience to believers who tire of the constant pressure and are tempted to fall away.
Lift up the leaders of house churches, asking God to strengthen their faith and understanding, and give them creative ways to disciple isolated believers.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from an Open Doors USA text alert.
As you can imagine, this makes house church meetings even more difficult for believers who wish to enter a home from outside the xiaoqu. Management will quickly call the police if a house church meeting is discovered.
It's because of this reality that we received a prayer request from China.
Some believers were called in for questioning numerous times and ordered to notify the local police if they were visited by anyone from outside the local area. They live in a xiaoqu.
###, an Open Doors partner from another town, was unaware of the authorities' attention and visited the small house church in their xiaoqu to encourage them and to do some teaching. The visit was brief, but the local believers were immediately summoned for questioning. "Why didn't you contact us immediately?" the authorities demanded. Obviously, the cameras and surveillance network had identified ### as a non-local.
On his arrival back home, ### himself was contacted and told to return to the town where this incident occurred for further questioning. ### is now conflicted about what to do. Returning could mean some sort of punishment or even detention. At the same time, there are so many other isolated believers who rely on his visits to stay strong.
Please pray with ### and Christians like him as they navigate the many restrictions that hinder their freedom of worship.
Pray for Chinese Christians who must 'count the cost' of following Jesus on a daily basis, that they will be committed and bold.
Ask God to give wisdom, joy, and resilience to believers who tire of the constant pressure and are tempted to fall away.
Lift up the leaders of house churches, asking God to strengthen their faith and understanding, and give them creative ways to disciple isolated believers.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from an Open Doors USA text alert.
. His love for us is warm like the sun on your skin, you feel overwhelmed by happiness, you feel safe like a child in his father's arms! The words we use can never do it justice. So overwhelmed it brought tears to my eyes. The truth can only be told to those who seek it.
