A Crackdown on the “Weepers” – Underground Church’s Persecution in China Continues
It is with a heavy heart that I report the latest, devastating news that has come out of China. In what is being called a multi-city crackdown, the government is targeting a vast underground Christian network known as All Sphere/All Range. This movement, also referred to as Word of Life or “Born Again,” has been a beacon of hope for many Chinese believers despite the ongoing persecution they face. The crackdown specifically affects churches in Shenyang, Dalian, Benxi in Liaoning Province, and Suizhou, as authorities continue their aggressive campaign against what they consider to be “illegal” religious activity.
The underground church in China is thought to have anywhere from a few thousand to 20 million members and has long been persecuted by the Chinese government. In recent years, the unregistered church has been subject to mass arrests and raids on house churches by authorities. In one such raid in Shandong in 2014, 22 worshippers were arrested, and in 2020 over 100 people were arrested nationwide in one sweep. One senior elder was criminally detained for hiding criminal proceeds—what authorities call ‘crime-hiding’ is a common way for them to try and silence Chinese Christians.
Peter Xu, a leader in this movement, who is now living in the U.S. after emigrating to the States, has not relented in his efforts to continue to minister and lead. The underground All Sphere/All Range/Weepers church is alive and well both in China and in the Chinese diaspora.
The enemy will try to muffle the voices of God’s people through persecution around the world, but he cannot put the Gospel in chains! As we hear testimonies of the brothers and sisters who are suffering for Christ, we are ignited with a holy fire that emboldens us to take up the mantle and speak the name of our Savior boldly. Through the work of ministries like BTJ and the Voice of the Persecuted (VOP) conferences, we are able to hear the powerful stories of faithful witnesses like Peter Xu who have counted the cost and still chose Christ. They are following in the footsteps of the apostles and are found rejoicing in the honor of suffering for the One who bore the cross for them and gave up His life in our place.
