In signs of increasing control government officials in China’s coastal Zhejiang Province recently ordered that surveillance cameras and equipment be installed in Three-Self Patriotic Churches (TSPM are churches registered with the communist government) allowing the government to easily monitor church services and activities. If any church refuses, the government has been sending officials to forcibly set up the devices if the order meets with refusal. Officially, the government is stating that the need for cameras in the church are for the “safety” of the congregation and to protect congregants from “terrorism” attacks. The government also stated they would take into account whether or not the church had previously resisted cross demolitions that have taken place over the past several years and that they would send more government agents to the site if it had.

From March 21-24, hundreds of police officers converged on Changlin Church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, in order to carry out this task, beating any Christians who resisted their efforts.

A local Christian said the church members questioned why they needed additional surveil-lance since Three-Self Churches are already heavily monitored and policed by the govern-ment. Some Christian women stationed themselves outside the church, fearing a possible church demolition, and were seized for their resistance, then released once the cameras were set up. Officials also destroyed the church’s reception desk and other parts of the building, including the church’s gate. On March 23rd, Shengai Church, in Pingyang County, Wenzhou, issued a statement accusing the government of violating their privacy; disrupting the internal affairs of religious organizations; and breaking laws by installing the cameras. The church claimed the government had no legal basis for these actions, saying that it needs to obtain the permission of the church or would otherwise result in an abuse of power and religious freedom.

Pray for China’s church as increased surveillance and persecution escalates.

Pray for our partners in China to be protected as they minister under the ever changing political landscape and maneuvering by China’s communist party.

Pray for pastors and church leaders to have wisdom when dealing with authorities. Thank the Lord for the faithfulness of His church in China. Pray it will continue to grow.

This past April 15, 2017, marked the 105th Day of the Sun propaganda event in North Korea (NK) where North Koreans (Nk’ans) celebrated the birthday of Kim Il-Sung, the founder and first president of NK. NK’ans consider it the most important annual holiday celebrated. NK’ans celebrated the day by visiting one of thousands of statues around the country that bear Il-Sung’s likeness. Celebrants also made pilgrimages to his birthplace in Pyongyang. In Pyong-yang itself,

North Koreans often visit the Kumsu-san Palace of the Sun where Kim Il-Sung’s body is kept for viewing. The country’s celebra-tions included parades that showcased its military might in front of Kim Jong-un, NK’s supreme leader.

At this years parade, NK showcased submarine-launched ballistic missiles and larger missiles believed to be inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking Canada, the United States and targets in Europe.

The smaller submarine-launched ballistic missiles have a range of over 600 miles capable of striking targets in Southeast Asia. On Sunday NK defied President Donald Trump’s demands for it to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes, by launching a missile from an eastern port city Sunday morning. It failed.

Meanwhile tension continues to escalate with the threat of war as NK’s Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-Ryol stated, “We’ll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis.” He also said that an “all out war” was a possibility if the US responded by taking military action against Pyongyang. In the midst of all this, innocent Nk’ans are the most vulnerable. Pray that God would intervene and that the likelihood of war would diminish. Pray for our partners in the country that are ministering to those in need. n.