When Jinyi’s husband was arrested for leading an underground church in China, she had to make a decision. She chose to keep going.
The scene is still vivid in Jinyi*’s memory. Young people, mostly college students and some young adults, sit in a circle singing familiar hymns, their Bibles open in front of them on the carpeted floor. She remembers the joy on their faces as they worshiped God and prepared their hearts and minds for the message they had come to hear. With the windows closed and the red floor-to-ceiling curtains drawn, the room was dark. But the light of Christ was powerfully reflected in the worship of the 100-plus students who had gathered there.
It was a typical Sunday morning at the house church that Jinyi and her husband, Zhang*, planted in central China more than two years ago.
It all turned upside down in a moment. Jinyi heard the heavy footsteps, saw the door swing open, and suddenly Chinese police officers in black uniforms swarmed the room. Jinyi immediately realized their fellowship was the target of a police raid.
While most of the people the police detained that day were released after 24 hours, some were kept for a full week. But Jinyi’s husband was the leader of the ministry. Like most house church leaders in certain areas of China, Zhang would bear the brunt of the punishment. He was taken and eventually sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison and fined 60,000 renminbi (equivalent to USD $8,347).
Within minutes, Jinyi’s world changed. In her words, “everything fell apart quickly.”
Rejection and betrayal
When Open Doors local partners first met Jinyi after the raid, she was withdrawn and visibly skeptical. Deep hurt filled her dark eyes. And for good reason. After Zhang was taken, Jinyi turned to the churches in her area for help to survive. She was a woman in her 50s with two children and no real means to provide for them. Where Jinyi lives, being a Christian woman and on her own acting as a single parent makes her doubly vulnerable.
But instead of support, she received nothing but rejection. The area churches feared being implicated by association. And while Jinyi knew the reasoning behind their actions, the wounds ran deep.
“In my heart, I felt betrayed, hurt, disappointed,” she said during a later visit with Open Doors partners. “I questioned myself. I questioned my strength. I even questioned God.”
As the days and weeks passed, Jinyi’s confusion and sadness deepened. “I felt isolated,” she recalls. “I was struggling with my faith and found myself sinking into silence.”
Jinyi’s story goes back to many years before.
A call to ministry
Jinyi has had a passion for student ministry ever since she heard the gospel herself in university. When they got married, her and Zhang continued to serve in that field.
During Jinyi’s period of struggle and loneliness, it was her love for those students that eventually helped her remember her calling.
Still feeling weary and somewhat overwhelmed, Jinyi knew she needed to be strong for these students.
When her husband Zhang was arrested, Jinyi fell into a period of mental and emotional struggle.
Despite the risks, she was supposed to be there for those whom God had entrusted to her and her husband. “The calling I once received from God came alive again,” she says. “I knew I must help these young people stand firm in the Lord once again.”
Day by day, Jinyi began to put the pieces back together.
Over meals, she met one-on-one with several young people to encourage them. Inspired by Jinyi’s faith during and after the raid, several of those young people stepped up to lead small groups, eventually followed by youth gatherings held in different homes.
Pressured and underground
As China (No. 17 on the 2026 World Watch List) continues its crackdown on Christian gatherings, including churches not registered with the government, Jinyi knows she is taking extreme risks to lead another underground ministry. Her youth gatherings are illegal. Where the church is pressured and forbidden, believers are often forced underground.
A local church leader explains the situation for house church leaders in certain regions of China. “The atmosphere is too tense in this area,” he says. “Everyone here knows about Jinyi’s situation, but no one dares to get involved.”
He gestures toward an office building. “Can you imagine? A few years ago, there were five churches here, including ours. Now, only one government-approved church remains. House churches face increasing challenges. We have to break into small groups, staying low and hidden.”
Despite the risks, Jinyi continues to run an underground ministry.
Jinyi lives in one of the many parts of China where Christians, especially leaders of growing churches and ministries, live under daily pressure. On any given day, they can be called for “tea” with authorities—a somber warning that their actions and words are being watched.
In addition to surveillance and church raids, the Chinese government continues to introduce legislation to stunt the growth of the gospel and the future of the church. In 2018, China passed legislation banning anyone under 18 from affiliating with any religion and its activities (though this law is enforced to differing extents across the country).
The simple act of gathering for worship and Bible study can be treacherous for students, as well. In addition to the risk of police raids, students can be denied access to graduate programs and applications for government positions.
“The fiercest spiritual battle in China is for the faith of the next generation,” says one ministry leader who prefers to remain anonymous. “Once vibrant student fellowships on university campuses in China have largely disappeared, with only a few continuing in secret.”
Faith reignited
Open Doors partners recently shared a meal with Jinyi. Her spirit was bright. She eagerly shared that her ministry now includes 10 underground small groups with a total of more than 70 young people, all steadily growing stronger even in the midst of persecution.
“The fiercest spiritual battle in China is for the faith of the next generation. Once vibrant student fellowships on university campuses in China have largely disappeared, with only a few continuing in secret.”
The group leaders are also beginning to mature. And a church is providing them with online Bible teaching to use in their gatherings. “Over two years of accompanying Jinyi with our presence, prayer and support, we have been witnessing her life being rebuilt and renewed,” our local partner says. “And behind her, the faith of many others is being reignited.”
Jinyi’s husband has found comfort in hearing about the “little lambs” he and Jinyi tended. A few months ago, Zhang was scheduled to be released from prison. But it didn’t happen.
“Please pray for us,” Jinyi asks. “My husband is still in prison, and our youth gatherings must remain underground. Our youth are young, both in age and understanding of the truth. People are still overshadowed by persecution and remain fearful of gatherings.
“As a leader and the eldest, I too feel isolated and in need of support as others avoid us out of fear,” she shares. “I am deeply grateful for your support and encouragement, which have made me feel less alone and less afraid.”
*Names and some details were edited to protect the identity of Jinyi, Zhang and their ministry.
The impact of Open Doors' work
Recognizing the urgent need to come alongside vulnerable ministry leaders like Jinyi, Open Doors local partners have continued to visit her. For Jinyi, this ministry of presence has been a lifeline: “Your visits help me realize that the Lord has not forgotten me. He still loves me. He does no wrong, and He must have a good purpose for my husband and me.”
Because of your prayers and gifts, our partners can make these encouraging visits to underground Christians like Jinyi who often feel isolated and disconnected. Through discipleship and leadership training tailored to their needs, Open Doors is walking with Chinese church leaders under pressure and underground as they live under the constant threat of being watched, exposed and persecuted. And as China continues to crack down even further on the church, more believers will be forced underground now and in the coming years.
As Jinyi’s story shows, this effort can empower leaders to pursue their calling to disciple young men and women. Knowing they are not alone—that the worldwide Church cares—builds resilience and fortitude.
Pray
- Please pray for Jinyi’s husband, still imprisoned after he was supposed to be released. Ask God to protect Zhang from harm, strengthening and comforting him with His presence.
- Please pray for Jinyi. Ask God to strengthen and comfort her and provide for her family. Give her wisdom and guidance to serve the student and youth groups.
- Please pray for the student and youth groups in Jinyi’s region and throughout China. Ask God to protect and strengthen them with His mighty hand, and fill them with courage to stand firm.
- Please pray for Open Doors’ presence ministry. May it be led by the Holy Spirit, grounded in truth and filled with God’s love. Let this ministry bring glory to God.
Give a gift
Your generosity can help the underground church survive – and even grow.
- $38 could provide practical, medical, legal and pastoral support to an underground believer.
- $57 could train underground believers to persist through persecution and support others.
- $91 could build future underground churches through a youth leadership program
