PRAY FOR CHINA

 

PRAY FOR CHINA Since 2022 in China, strict government regulations severely restrict online religious activity. Only religious organizations with a government-issued permit are allowed to post religious content online. On September 15, Chinese authorities issued even more rules BANNING ANY ONLINE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY: PERMITS REQUIRED: all religious organizations and individuals must have a government-issued license to post any religious content online. BANS ON PERSONAL ACCOUNTS: Clergy and others are forbidden from teaching through personal social media accounts, livestreaming, or chat groups. ONLINE WORSHIP PROHIBITED: Unauthorized prayer meetings, worship services, and masses are prohibited. NO RELIGION FOR MINORS: Regulations explicitly ban using the internet to "induce minors to become religious" or organize online religious training for children. FUNDRAISING BANNED: Online fundraising for religious purposes, or sales of religious merchandise are forbidden. EXTENDED REACH: The online activities of clergy from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and other foreign countries are also subject to these same restrictive regulations. STATE SURVEILLANCE: MONITORING: Authorities use various surveillance technologies to track and monitor anyone deemed a threat to state interests. SINICIZATION: The government forces religious groups to align their doctrines and practices with the Chinese Communist Party's socialist values and ideology. UNREGISTERED CHURCHES, also known as "house churches," are a particular target of these digital crackdowns. Online sermons and other activities conducted by these groups are strictly forbidden. THE USE OF AI for creating or distributing religious content is also banned. These online restrictions, alongside other government controls, significantly suppress religious freedom in China. Clergy and individuals who violate the online regulations face penalties that can range from account closures to criminal investigation. We are very thankful to God for the freedoms we have in America. Please pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in China.