(Xinxiang, Henan Province—July 28, 2021) ChinaAid resources verified that Henan Province Xinxiang Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs recently issued an order via phone banning Christians from participating in flood relief work in the name of churches or Christians. The ban orders Christians and workers not to mention their Church’s name while working and forbids them to discuss their faith or reveal their Christian identity. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities warn those participating that they will force those workers who do not comply with this rule to leave the flood-ravaged area.
After the unprecedented July 20 flood hit Henan, Christians, as well as individuals from non-government rescue organizations of Henan Province and other provinces rushed to Zhenzhou and participated in relief work. Some videos circulating online reveal that police and fire fighters acknowledge Christians’ work and cooperate with them. When one Christian team consisting of 40 workers from Wuhan encountered the local commander while helping rescue Zhengzhou people. he welcomed them, saying, “Oh, you guys are Christians…Great. Thank you all.” He introduced them to the director of troopers, and said, “You can ask him for help if you need any vehicles.”
 Wuhan Christians discuss how to rescue people with Zhengzhou police. (Photo: ChinaAid Video) |
Although non-government rescue organizations, including Christians, rushed to Xinxiang Weihui to rescue people from the flood, some authorities have harshly warned rescue workers…. Christians must comply with the ban on mentioning their identity or preaching the gospel to people affected by the flood.
When a severe natural disaster happens, CCP authorities typically do not welcome a non-government organization’s help. They particularly reject help from religious groups. Authorities also tightly control money and supplies donated to help victims of disasters.
Since a major earthquake shook Wenchuan on May 12, 2008, 1,060,000 volunteers (610,000 Christians) have participated in relief work and post-disaster reconstruction in China. CCP authorities banned Three self-churches from participating in relief work at that time. Three years later, when the Greater Chinese Democratic Jasmine Revolution broke out, however, as some volunteers helping Wenchuan participated in the event, CCP authorities forcibly dissolved all volunteer groups working in Wenchuan.
CCP officials also banned Christians’ help while the pandemic raged in Wuhan. They severely restricted non-government rescue workers and basically refused help from Christians, especially those associated with house churches. Some assert that while the CCP remains on alert for organizations with a Christian background, any non-government organization with house church association/history will not likely survive.
During late January 2020, seven house churches in Beijing jointly collected protective equipment for Wuhan churches. Early in February, however, police summoned organizers of the effort, and warned them to stop the event. Christians, home and abroad, donated money and supplies to Wuhan churches, hoping they could give these supplies to hospitals and individuals. Nevertheless, the Red Cross took many of the supplies. Police officers also confiscated donated supplies from churches, and escorted pastors to “drink tea” (translator’s note: police interrogate individuals).
Some local churches in Wuhan also raised money and collected supplies, hoping to donate these to government departments. As CCP authorities considered house churches (unregistered at Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs) to be illegal organizations, local officials, concerned that accepting donations from these churches could cause problems for them with authorities, they refused the churches’ donations.
Despite the CCP’s routine constraints/persecutions on and offline against Christans and their crackdown on house churches in various regions, Christians and house churches continue to shine as light. As they participate in relief work, they also serve as salt, helping those affected/harmed by natural and human catastrophes overcome the ensuing difficulties.
~ Yu Bing, ChinaAid’s Special Reporter
ChinaAid Media Team
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