Even entertaining friends at home may be treated as a suspicious religious activity by the Chinese authorities; believers from official churches are no exception.
Three-Self Church
Main Preacher Assessment Standard: Obey and Follow the Party
Henan provincial authorities are carrying out a comprehensive examination of Three-Self preachers, with the ultimate goal to get rid of “unpatriotic” ones.
Believers Mobilized to “Study Xi”
Along with tens of millions of Party members and public officials, Three-Self Church believers are forced to use the mobile app “Xi Study Strong Nation.”
Fake News to Hide Forcible Demolition of Church
After destroying a church under construction, authorities issued a news release, claiming that the church was a “private building in violation of building laws.”
More Three-Self Churches Shut down in Henan
Authorities’ crackdown on Three-Self churches remains unabated: some have been sealed off or shut down, and believers have been subjected to violent beatings.
High-Tech Used to Monitor Religious Venues
The authorities are using satellite positioning systems, aerial drones, and other high-tech tools to conduct surveillance on believers.
Political Training: Cultivating “Red” Preachers
Three-Self church pastors forced to undergo “ideological conversion.” Xi Jinping and Mao must be preached together with Christ, or license to preach revoked.
Disobeying the Party: Preaching Permits of 57 Three-Self Church Preachers Revoked
Being a preacher in a government-controlled Three-Self Church no longer means being free from persecution.
Church Leaders Under Tight Control: Must Ask to Travel
Even personal travel to visit relatives requires permission, and detailed itineraries must be submitted. Failure to comply can result in churches being closed.
Followers of Christ Forced to Follow the Party
Registration of Three-Self believers moves naturally to controlling what Christians read and hear in sermons, transforming churches into stealth Party branches.