Christian training center in northern China amid communism, Islam, and poverty

By February 27, 2025
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China (MNN) — Even in the toughest challenges, God equips those He calls.

Despite ongoing government efforts to “Sinicize” Christianity, the Chinese Church continues to hold fast to its identity. However, this resilience requires intentional effort. One crucial way to sustain and strengthen the Church is by equipping local leaders through training centers. These centers serve as hubs where ministers can teach, preach, and disciple — ensuring that sound Biblical teaching continues to spread. One such center is currently being built in the northern hills of China.

However, establishing a Christian training center in this region is no small task. Local believers must navigate three major challenges. Kurt Rovenstine from Bibles for China explains: “They do face a lot of obstacles in trying to share the Gospel in a place that, number one, is communist, number two, is very Muslim and very traditional, and number three is resource challenged.”

These three challenges — communism, Islam, and poverty — create a difficult environment for ministry. Each presents unique obstacles and misunderstandings about God, making the need for solid Biblical training all the more urgent.

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Woman sitting behind the desk (Photo courtesy of Unsplash)

Despite these difficulties, local workers are pressing forward. They are constructing the center as part of a registered church in northern China, with a clear mission: to equip and empower local leaders for effective ministry. This is where Bibles for China plays a crucial role, supplying much-needed materials to support their training. So far, the ministry has helped fund the education of lay ministers who will return to rural areas to guide believers in their home churches.

“We really love the opportunity that the Lord has opened to us to support them in providing some study Bibles and things like that, to the students that come to this Training Center,” says Kurt.

However, the challenges extend beyond equipping adults. A key struggle for trained believers is raising their children with Biblical knowledge. State restrictions prohibit bringing children to church, holding Sunday school, or organizing structured faith programs.

“You can’t bring them in,” Kurt explains. “You can’t have Sunday school, you can’t have intentional programs. So it has to be informal and just part of relationships.” That’s why Christians are encouraged to nurture their faith within their families, passing down Biblical stories through parents, grandparents, and uncles. This way, children grow up grounded in the Word and ready to join the Church with spiritual maturity.

Pray for the smooth construction of the training center and for wisdom in preparing the training programs. Visit Bibles for China’s website to learn more about the training centers and how you can support their mission!

 

 

 

 

Header photo courtesy of Unsplash.


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