Chinese Christians are being arrested for tithing. But Gen Z are still hungry for Jesus

When 400 police officers swept through a province in eastern China and arrested 70 Christians, it confirmed the Communist Party’s campaign against house churches was intensifying. But could the pressure faced by the Chinese Church actually bring about growth? 

Picture this: 400 police officers, 200 vehicles and a well-coordinated operation sweeping through a province in eastern China. Their target? Not drug cartels or terrorist cells, but Christians gathering for Bible study and worship.

Over 70 believers were arrested, interrogated about their finances, and hit with fines ranging into tens of thousands of yuan - all for the ‘crime’ of taking church offerings and meeting in small groups.

As someone who has spent years monitoring religious persecution for Open Doors, I can tell you that this massive crackdown isn’t just another isolated incident. It’s a deliberate strategy - a warning shot designed to intimidate Christians across the region and beyond.