China  

The government is still wedded to a Communist ideology but no longer pays lip service to it. Unleashing market forces, whilst holding all the capital, have meant great economic growth, increased freedoms and rapid Westernization for China, but super-power status has made its leaders more nationalistic and anti-Western. Four issues get persecuted Christians and the church into trouble: when they are perceived as too powerful, too political, too foreign, or a cult. However, for the foreseeable future, the new government is likely to use religion rather than exterminate it.

Pray:

• For the Chinese government, which is getting harder to influence internationally – this has huge implications for advocacy work
• For house churches treading warily through an unpredictable space of danger and opportunity
• For Open Doors staff training and mentoring pastors and church workers.