(From Open Doors, odus.org). Time and time again this has been proven: the door of a prison cell cannot silence the voice of God, and, right now, even in many “closed door” nations, the underground church is flourishing!
In a community in central China, for example, a young woman named Jinyi (all names changed in this article to protect identities, for obvious reasons) is gathering young people in secret…moving from home to home, speaking in whispers, trusting that the One who called her`is stronger than the government who fears her.
Her husband, Zhang (again, name changed), is in prison. He was sentenced to 3-1/2 years and heavily fined…for leading a house church that dared to worship opening.
The raid came on a Sunday morning. Police in black uniforms swarmed the room. Within minutes, everything Zhang and Jinyi had built was gone!
What happened next could have broken Jinyl.
Churches turned her away, afraid of being implicated. Two childredn, no income, no community…and a faith being tested at it’s deepest roots. But faithful Open Door financial partners…JUST LIKE YOU….showed up just when Jinyl needed it most. Week after week, meal after meal, the light came back into her eyes. She thought of the young people who had scattered like sheep after the raid. Someone had to go back for them! And so, Jinyl went, and all the while, Open Doors is able to continue support her and help her continue her vital work.
Today, Jinyl leads 10 underground small groups, with more than 70 young people, who are growing stronger in their faith…even as the persecution intensifies around them.
China is a nation where it’s illegal for children to go to church, where surveillance is constant, and a knock on the door can mean years behind bars, these young people are choosing, Jesus anyway.
China ranks #17 on the 2026 Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians face the greatest persecution. The crackdown is getting worse . House churches are being shuttered. Campuses are being swept of any Christian presence. The government knows what is at state: the next generation.
You can help Open Doors with their mission to stand with persecuted Christians like Jinyl. Here at The Waiting World, we encourage you to financially partner with them by going to odus.org
And for a look at one of the many unreached people groups in China, we are pleased to introduce you to the Zhuang, one of the many videos we feature on The Waiting World (thewaitingworld.net). To view the Zhuang, click HERE.