Underground Church
 

Can anyone tell me what the main differences between "free to worship" churches and "underground" churches where Christians are persecuted?

Is the church set up the same way with pastors and such?
How are safe places of worship chosen? and with whom?

Just curious.

We have some friends who have family members overseas in a Muslim Country.. they have a pastor.. and have church in a upstairs darkened room with about 40 to 50 in attendance.. they have gaurds posted out side...and meet in the nighttime..

They worship by waving their hands in complete silence and weep and pray silently too.. the punishment for meeting like this is beating up to a hanging..

but they are growing in size...

In China the majority of Christians meet in "underground" churches. i.e. churches that are not registered with the government. The congregations meet in house fellowships. There is usually a pastor who often oversees more than one fellowship group. On my last visit to China I met with three fellowship groups who came together for three days of teaching on the Second Coming of Christ. There were about 100 people in all who met in an apartment. On another occasion I ministered in a house fellowship which was one of 20 this pastor was responsible for. Our church provided him with a motorcycle to get around on.

In China the liberty that a group has is directly related to the local leaders. If the local leadership are open to Christianity there is freedom to worship quite openly. However, if they are not then it becomes much more restricted and secretive. Some security personnel in an apartment building are open to turning a blind eye for a regular stipend.

Some entire villages in China are Christian villages with a great deal of liberty.

"Free to Worship" churches in China are churches that are registered Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) churches. The pastors are approved by the Communist Government and all members must be registered with the government. They are restricted in what they can teach and preach and cannot baptize anyone under 18 years of age.

Speaking of "underground" churches, I believe there is a church

that has been planted (as wheat) in the ground. Except a grain

of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die,

it bringeth forth much fruit. There is definitely a church that has been

sown in the ground. I know some of the members!

Blessings,

Falla39