“But we belong to those who have faith and are saved.”
Due to continuous pressure from the Chinese authorities, Guangfu Church, a house church in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, which once had around 1,000 members, now has only about 20 believers left who continue to gather for worship. Even these few remaining members are still facing persecution, according to a report from Bitter Winter cited by Christian Daily International on the 11th.
In the past, local officials had promised the church that it could gather freely as long as it did not pursue legal action or contact the media. However, when Yao Huaixiang was appointed head of the Baiyun District Religious Affairs Bureau, he overturned the agreement, declaring, “I am in charge now. Things will go as I say.”
Since then, the authorities have disrupted worship services under the pretext of “electrical problems,” inflated costs for fire safety equipment, and installed surveillance cameras around the church to monitor attendees. They have also compiled a list of 58 members and have been intimidating them through phone calls, home visits, and pressure at workplaces — even threatening children.
One believer’s disabled son was mocked by a village official who told him, “Let Jesus give you welfare,” after which his government assistance was cut off. Another member’s teenage daughter was warned that her education opportunities would be at risk if she continued attending church. Some families have faced eviction threats, and others have been coerced to sign pledges promising to stop worship gatherings.
Founded in 2005 by Pastor Ma Chao, Guangfu Church has faced continuous harassment since 2015 by the Religious Affairs Bureau, Public Security, and local administrative agencies. The church has experienced worship halls being sealed, doors welded shut, forced evictions, and interference with overseas theological education. Congregants have been assaulted during raids, and church property has been confiscated.
Pastor Ma himself has been repeatedly detained without formal charges. In 2017, church member Li Hongmin was sentenced to 10 months in prison for printing Christian books, and his publishing business was forced to close. The authorities have demanded that believers sign statements promising to stop “illegal religious activities” and refrain from engaging in online ministry. Elder Zhang Zhibiao, who refused to sign, is now under constant surveillance.
Despite all this, the remaining members continue to hold firmly to their faith. Pastor Ma recently declared, “Whether it is prison or martyrdom, I will face it calmly. Without God’s permission, not a single hair from my head will fall. I firmly believe in God’s protection over His church.”
Guangfu Church is an unregistered house church and has become a major target of President Xi Jinping’s “Sinicisation of Religion” policy, which seeks to bring all religious activities under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This policy requires even sermons to include CCP ideology, and unregistered churches considered a threat to “political security” and “social stability” are increasingly subjected to raids and arrests.(Source: Gospel Prayer Newspaper)
“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:38-39,NIV)
God, we ask You to rebuke the actions of the Chinese government, which sides with evil by suppressing unregistered house churches under the policy of “Sinicisation of Religion,” trying to shake the foundation of faith and turn believers away from the truth. Thank You, Lord, for protecting the Guangfu Church and its members who continue to live by faith, trusting in Your care, even though many have fallen away under constant threats from the authorities. Through witnesses of faith like the Guangfu Church, who do not retreat but rejoice in the Lord despite ongoing hardships, we pray that You would pierce the hearts of their persecutors and bring them to kneel before the gospel to receive salvation.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
