China (MNN) — Ministries in China face challenges of funding, opportunity, and access. Kurt Rovenstine of Bibles for China recently visited partners in the country and heard updates from the ground. Word is spreading, from the Chinese government and elsewhere, that Bible distribution is no longer needed in China. Rovenstine paints a different picture.
“Every year, we have requests and projects that are no smaller than the year before, and this year is no exception. So we’re excited about as much opportunity as we’ve ever had,” he says.
Rather than the need lessening, Rovenstine says it has simply changed.
“The need in certain places does not exist because of the ease of access to those certain provinces and locations. At the provincial level, at the government level, we’ve been able to work there. But there are a lot of places that are a little more difficult.”
BFC partners are starting to explore those areas. He says the road to Scripture access often winds through the registered church.
“If you have access to a registered church, there’s a good chance you can get a Bible in many of the provinces. But not every province takes advantage of that opportunity. They don’t have large supplies because they can’t afford them or they choose not to get them.”
Sometimes rural areas face unique changes.
“Someone just lives way too far away from the place where they need to go – a central church in a larger city – that would have a supply of Bibles,” Rovenstine says.
Please pray that BFC would find open doors for its Bible distribution projects.
Rovenstine is encouraged about the state of the church in China despite heavy regulation by the government and lack of freedom to evangelize.
Please pray for the situation in China and for the believers there.
Pray that Chinese followers of Jesus would be obedient to His call, whether He leads them to the registered church or underground church. Pray that these congregations would not be divided, and pray that lost people would be drawn to the pleasing aroma of Christ’s church in China.
Images used in this article courtesy of Bibles for China
