China (MNN) — China currently finds itself in the middle of a political firestorm. Its treatment of Uighur Muslims has caused international outrage.
China continues to deny allegations of mistreatment, despite video footage of Uighur Muslims blindfolded and forced to kneel on the ground in rows. These people have also been subjected to forced labor and even sterilization.
In light of these events, relations between China and the United States have deteriorated. The US recently closed the Chinese Consulate in Houston.
The United Kingdom has also butted heads with China in recent days, announcing plans to offer citizenship to people in Hong Kong. Read more about the national security law imposed by China in Hong Kong here.
Bibles For China’s work
Bibles for China provides people in rural China access to the Bible. (Image by DEZALB from Pixabay)
Despite everything going on, Kurt Rovenstine says Bibles for China’s mission is to, “Continue to work through the registered church, taking advantage of partnerships that we’ve developed there to keep the process of distributing scriptures moving forward. But lots of dynamics at this point very hard for us to predict.”
Bibles for China watches for any attempt by the Chinese government to alter the Bibles being printed. “Our folks there that are receiving the scriptures that we’re providing are telling us that there’s there’s been no changes,” Rovenstine says. Nevertheless, he says these efforts may be going on behind the scenes.
Widening economic gap
As China’s Communist Party continues to crack down on religious freedom, more and more people are falling below the poverty line. Rovenstine says, “China would love for us to believe that they’re doing really, really well at closing that gap. But the gap in China is as big as it’s ever been in terms of the haves and the have-nots. So for someone to be able to have access to the Word of God is incredibly important.”
Several outlets have reported that poor Christians have been denied government aid unless they get rid of Christian imagery and replace it with Communist imagery. Although Rovenstine has not heard any specific examples, he says partners have told him about many other instances of government overreach.
Despite all this, the Gospel continues to be the most powerful force in China today. Rovenstine says Bibles for China will continue to make the Bible widely available in rural areas of the country. Pray that many would continue coming to Christ despite Communist opposition.
The header image shows the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Uighur Muslims have been held in similar camps in China. (Image by Adam Hill from Pixabay)
