Checking in for Devotions

Accountability through fellow Christians is an important part of staying strong in one’s faith. But what if you couldn’t meet with them in person?

A woman named Lan is just one of the many people in China who has had this question.

That’s why Back to God Ministries International’s Chinese ministry team is helping Christians connect with one another through media. This is especially important during times of heightened pressure from the Chinese government and coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

The team is using a new “check-in” feature on WeChat, the most popular social network in China where a Chinese translation of the CRC’s Seeking God's Face devotional is published. The feature allows believers like Lan to connect discreetly and safely.

“Through the application, we can keep in touch about the spiritual health of our brothers and sisters and provide timely help and prayer,” Lan recently told BTGMI. “I have often been very encouraged by things my brothers and sisters in this group have shared, too, especially when I have been particularly down.”

That connection and encouragement has led Lan to reach out and share the Gospel with others.

“Often many believers don’t have a church fellowship group, and are fairly disconnected, spiritually,” Lan says. “By using the check-in option in this way, we can have a small group on WeChat where we can interact with brothers and sisters from various places and they can pray for each other at any time.”

Jerry An, BTGMI’s Chinese language ministry leader, believes that because of the pressures people are facing in China now is the best time for us to share the Gospel.

“All the uncertainty and fear in China is making people more open to the Gospel,” An says. “Many church leaders in China have assured us that this is the best time to reach out and share God's Word.”

Pray that Lan will continue to grow in faith with the help of this new check-in tool and the online community that it has helped to foster. Pray for all Christians in China who may be feeling isolated in their faith.