(United States — July 24, 2025) As China’s economy slows and social unrest escalates, a new wave of persecution against Christians is spreading nationwide. Pastors are being arrested for collecting offerings, and foreign missionary activities are facing strict restrictions. Despite Xi Jinping’s escalating crackdown, Christianity continues to spread across China, Pastor Bob Fu, a human rights advocate, expressed in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) on July 14.
Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, revealed the grim reality facing Christians and missionaries. “I know nearly every foreign Christian, who is a missionary…under the name of businesspeople or even students… They are being kicked out and they are being banned from serving or staying in China,” Pastor Fu emphasized, pointing to the stringent restrictions imposed since May 1. Foreigners are now virtually prohibited from preaching or teaching in China without Communist Party authorization, which is rarely granted.
The economic downturn, partly driven by increased tariffs on exports to the United States, has fueled widespread public dissatisfaction, including student-led pro-democracy protests. Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, also noted in the interview that such “pain” often drives people to seek democracy, but what the people really need is faith. However, as more Chinese citizens turn to Christianity, the government’s response has been to double down on repression.
Pastor Fu further detailed the chilling degree of state control, even within officially registered “Three-Self Patriotic” churches. “Every Sunday, before they sing the doxology, they have to rise up and sing the Communist anthem first. Sing the praises of communist heroes, instead of worshiping the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he noted.
Perhaps most alarming, Fu revealed, is the omnipresent surveillance: “All four corners of the church, including the pulpit, have to install facial recognition cameras in order to monitor all those who are attending the church worship services,” Fu asserted.
Tithes and offerings, basic practices of Christian worship, are now being criminalized, particularly in house churches. “Even the tithe and offering are called foreign religious service and are now totally criminalized, especially in house churches. So many house church pastors are arrested just because they set up an offering, a tithing box in the church,” Pastor Fu disclosed.
Such arrests are often prosecuted under charges of “business fraud.”
A stark example is the case of three pastors from Linfen Covenant Church, who were arrested two years ago on such charges. According to reports from ChinaAid, after their trial in May, one pastor was sentenced to two years in prison, while the other two received sentences of over three and a half years. “Simply for having their church with Sunday school and an offering box for tithing and offering in the church,” Pastor Fu explained.
Despite these strict measures, both Bob Fu and King insist that Christianity continues to thrive in China. Bob Fu cited the case of Early Rain Covenant Church, whose members established two new churches under severe persecution, even as their pastor, Wang Yi, serves a nine-year prison sentence. We have seen many house churches experience revival, Pastor Fu added.
Jeff King echoed this sentiment, expressing his bewilderment at the Communist government’s failure to grasp the impact of persecution on the spread of Christian faith: “I can never understand the Marxist leaders, how they don’t get this, the more you press down the more the church spreads. Christians have a long history of dealing with chains and oppression, and again, nothing stops them. This is such a great story.”
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)
