(Song County, Henan Province, China – April 29, 2025) China has once again introduced a new measure to restrict the growth of Christianity, with Henan implementing a reward-based system to crack down on Christians.
Song County, Henan Province, recently issued a Notice on the Reward For Reporting Illegal Religious Activities, explicitly targeting Christians in house churches by encouraging the public to report any Christian activity not approved by the government.
Content of the “Notice on the reward for reporting illegal religious activities”
According to the notice published by Song County’s official media outlet, “Song County Integrated Media,” the scope for reporting is broad. It includes “holding religious activities outside registered religious venues, such as setting up private gathering spots or organizing house churches.” This effectively classifies all Christian gatherings outside government-approved venues as “illegal” and encourages the public to report.
The notice also lists “posing as religious clergy” as a subject to report. According to China’s recent religious regulations and measures, any religious personnel without government approval will all be considered “impersonation.” Any unapproved Christian publications or decorations, such as couplets, whether displayed in public venues or private homes, are also banned and subject to reporting.
Christian content on social media platforms is likewise also subjected to tight restrictions. The notice states that using platforms such as WeChat groups or Douyin (Chinese TikTok) for religious education training, publication of scriptures and sermons, or disseminating religious rites through text, images, or video falls within the range of reporting. In recent years, the Henan government has banned any appearance of Christian symbols, couplets, or language in private homes.
Other actions in the list of reportable offenses include “forcing or indirectly forcing others to believe in religion” and “proselytizing on the streets.”
Chinese government aims to surveil Christian communities with citizens
Analysts believe that the Chinese government’s introduction of a reward-for-reporting system is aimed at mobilizing members of society to comprehensively monitor and suppress religious activities without authorization. The political goal appears to be the elimination of all privately held home gatherings. This measure not only risks deepening hostility from non-Christians toward Christians, but is also widely seen as a serious violation of the Chinese Constitution’s provision for freedom of religious belief.
Christianity in the context of Henan
Henan is a major center of Christianity in China, with a large Christian population. Christianity was introduced to Henan in modern generations primarily by Western missionary societies, with the China Inland Mission among the earliest to arrive. The Canadian Presbyterian Mission and the American Lutheran Church also established churches in various parts of the province.
Since the reform and opening-up period, Christianity in Henan has experienced rapid growth, with the number of Christians ranking among the highest in the country. Alongside the official “Three-Self” churches, a vast number of house churches operate in homes or private locations. In recent years, the Chinese government has increasingly tightened its religious regulations, including Henan churches, and this “rewarded for reporting” notice marks yet another harsh measure of control.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)
