A Battle for Souls
Our previous articles have highlighted renewed persecution in China, as well as the system of prison camps, where both Muslim minorities and Christians are being held without trail. But what is going on behind the scenes? Potential for repression This massive wave of religious persecution came unexpected for many, but looking back it was inevitable. When there is revival and
Continue ReadingCreating a Christian underclass
In countries where the church is persecuted, Christians are often poor, lower-class people. There are several reasons for this. In Pakistan for example, the Christian minority largely comes from lower caste Hindus who converted to Christianity while the country was under British rule. In modern Pakistan, they remain largely working class, with some groups working as virtual slaves in fields
Continue ReadingHard knocks for the Chinese Church
We have seen with great joy how in recent months God has continued to use Chinese missionaries all throughout the 10/40 window. However, things in China are changing fast. And BtJ’s work is facing major challenges as president Xi’s anti-Christian policies are being implemented more widely and consistently. Although it was quite clear from the start of president Xi’s rule
Continue ReadingWhy China needs Bibles even more than before
There is a fair chance that the Bible you read in this morning was printed in China. It is a paradox for sure. No country prints as many Bibles as China, but brothers and sisters in this country are still praying and waiting for their own copy. And the need for Bible distribution and printing has got significantly bigger over
Continue ReadingDove lands again in India
Our Dove Sunday school teachers training program is still growing, and languages are being added every year. This summer a team of Chinese and Europeans were invited to India to train Sunday school teachers, together with our Indian partners. With its huge population of children, and many devoted followers of Jesus, India is a great place to use the Dove
Continue ReadingWho defends persecuted Muslims? (Spoiler: Not other Muslims)
Of those being persecuted for their faith around the world 80% are Christians. But what about the other 20%? Among them is a group that has received much media attention lately, the Uyghurs of China, a Muslim minority group. CNN published an article today with some surprising findings about what the world thinks about China’s treatment of them. It is
Continue ReadingPost-Christian bewilderment about the persecuted church
Not only Christian organisations worry about the increase of persecution world wide. An interesting report was published last week, as a result of an independent enquiry commissioned by Jeremy Hunt, the UK foreign secretary. The main takeaway was that the persecution of Christians is a pressing human rights issue, and in many situations the UK government fails to recognise or
Continue ReadingGood news from the field!
Aside from many urgent prayer needs that exist in the areas BtJ covers, we also receive encouraging reports about God’s work and breakthroughs of his Kingdom. Not all of these reports can be shared, but those below we want to pass on to encourage all those involved with BtJ’s work in one way or another. Saved after disaster At the
Continue ReadingNon-Western Mission Movements; A Reason to Rejoice
The worldwide missionary movement is no longer mainly Western. Back to Jerusalem is a prominent example of a missionary movement that developed apart from a connection to Western structures. Many Christians in the West rejoice when they hear about the work of these non-Western missionaries. Others express concern. Are they properly trained? Do they have member care in place? Do
Continue ReadingThe tragedy of Christians leaving their home lands
We rejoiced when we heard the news of Asia Bibi arriving safely in Canada to join her family there after years of imprisonment. However, this outcome is the better of two evils, not a good one. Because it remains a tragedy when Christians have to leave their homelands. On a much greater scale, we have seen Christians leave the Middle
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