Since October 9, nearly 30 pastors and staff from the Beijing Zion Church have been detained or forcibly disappeared by Chinese authorities. Zion was once a massive house church. But it was banned in 2018 after refusing to install government surveillance cameras in its sanctuary. The congregation has continued to meet in smaller groups in creative ways since then, despite continued challenges. This series of detainments has received the condemnation of the US State Department. “It is a new and significant crackdown that should get our attention and should refocus our thoughts and prayers towards the people in China that are facing ever-increasing challenges and outright persecution,” says a gospel worker supporting the Church in China. Last month, the Chinese government issued new restrictions on how religious leaders can and cannot use the internet. According to a report from Bitter Winter, Zion Church’s coordinated arrests appear to stem from the church leaders' disregard for those regulations. “[Online platforms] became very important during COVID and have been a really important tool for especially the house churches, but the registered churches as well,” explains the gospel worker. As Chinese believers continue to pivot under government rules, they need wisdom for how to minister the gospel. “The Christians in China are not afraid to take some risks and to do things that might get [them] in trouble, but if they don’t have to and there’s strategies otherwise, then they’d love to take advantage of that,” says the gospel worker. Pray for younger believers to glean insight from the older generation on how to endure and adapt to persecution. --- This story originally appeared at Mission Network News and is republished here with permission.