ANHUI, China — Last July, authorities in the eastern province of Anhui moved to discourage Christian work with young people through an article that appeared in the local newspaper headlined, “Illegal Private ‘Summer Camp’ Banned.”
The report did not mention which religion committed this “crime,” but many Chinese readers will have assumed it was one of the extreme cults banned by the government. In fact, a Christian source confirmed that the camp was run by evangelical house church Christians.
Through the children, the police found out about the camp and called in some of the teachers for interrogation. Eventually, the teachers were allowed to return home but warned they could be fined or arrested.
Although the camp had been completed successfully, the article was placed in the local newspaper to warn Christians in Anhui who could read between the lines.
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