House Church Shares Gospel

The House Church network in China is a shining example of how God will find a way to share his love with those willing to open their hearts. Life in remote, rural areas makes it difficult for many Chinese people to meet for worship and Bible study and fellowship in a traditional church setting.  Despite the absence of traditional churches, many Chinese Christians worship and study in small groups in their homes, hence the term "house church."  The Gospel is preached and God's love is shared in hundreds of these house church services and Bible Study groups throughout China.

In China, a Bible is a precious commodity and sometimes, in rural areas, as many as 70-100 Chinese Christians share only one copy. But despite these circumstances, a young Chinese boy named Chen discovered a group of believers meeting in one of these House Churches to read and study God’s Word. Born into a farming family, Chen lived a simple life with three older sisters and one brother. His family did not know about Jesus Christ, or the network of house churches in which the Chinese worship and study the Word of God. He had never been to a Bible study, nor had he ever heard the Gospel. He did not think further than the next day ahead, obediently completing his mundane chores and attending the local school. “I didn’t care where I came from, where I was going, or why I even lived,” recalls Chen.

Then, one day a neighbor quietly shared the purpose and joy she was finding in a nearby house church. She invited Chen’s mother to a Bible study meeting and told her about Jesus Christ. Chen overheard the invitation. “[She said] that He was the Almighty.” Hearing the name of Jesus Christ for the first time, Chen wondered, “Who is this Jesus?”

Chen’s mother accepted the invitation and set out for the house church one evening. Curious, Chen decided to follow her, until his mother noticed. “When my mother saw I was following,” Chen said, “She forced me to return home and finish my studies—telling me the church was only for the elders.”

House Church Inspires Chen's Heart

Chen’s curiosity increased and he was determined to learn more about Jesus and what was happening in the House Church. “I began finishing my chores and studies early on Sundays so mother couldn’t stop me from following,” he shares. “The first time I followed her was in secret. It was a far journey from our home. When I arrived at the house, someone was preaching about Jesus, and the love of God.”

As Chen heard the Gospel for the first time – boldly proclaimed in the small worship service in this humble house church in rural China - Jesus Christ the Almighty became real to him. “I was so attracted by God’s love for me,” Chen testifies, “and my life finally made sense.”

The House Church he attends continues to be a constant and meaningful part of Chen’s life. He attends the Church service every Sunday with his mother and finds meaning and purpose in God’s word. “It is exciting,” concludes Chen, reflecting on his new life in the Lord, “I now know that God’s word is for everyone, not just the elders.” Chen has found peace and internal joy knowing that he is a part of the family of God. Please join Bible League International in praying for the continued dedication, enlightenment and perseverance of Chen and others who meet for worship and Bible study in the house churches across China.