Life in the underground church – and how you can pray

Why are underground churches persecuted? What does daily life look like for underground believers? And how can I pray?

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

At this moment, there are believers gathering – curtains drawn, doors locked, voices barely a whisper. The scene doesn’t look like a church meeting, but that’s exactly what it is – an underground one. Beyond the shut windows or the border of the forests hiding the gathering is the ever-present threat of discovery and the consequences it could bring.

Yet, in the face of intense pressures and dangers, underground believers continue to meet together and share the hope they have. Not only are they enduring the heat of persecution – their numbers are growing. These believers testify to the truth that the light of the gospel shines most brightly in the darkest places.

Find out what life is like for underground believers and how you can stand with them in prayer, strengthening them to continue shining in the darkness.

• Dear Lord, we praise You for how You are adding to the numbers of underground believers around the world. Thank You for their faith, their endurance through trials and their boldness in witnessing. Please continue to sustain underground churches and enable them to keep growing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What do Christians in underground churches face?

In places like China and Laos, freedom of religion or belief is supposedly a constitutional right – however, the reality for Christians is very different. In China, churches that can operate more openly are state-sanctioned, registered under the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) or the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. With registration come the conditions of intense government monitoring and that teaching be aligned with Communist Party policies. For any registered church, young people under 18 are not allowed to attend.

• Our Father in heaven, thank You for more young people wanting to learn about the gospel. Please protect them as they seek out fellowship and discipleship and please put other believers in their path. We pray that more young people would hear about Jesus and want to follow Him. In Your mercy, we ask that You would reverse the law forbidding under-18s from attending church. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

In the face of likely compromise of doctrine, leadership and spiritual autonomy, as well as losing the ability to share the gospel with the next generation, many churches reject these constraints and go underground.

Given their illegal status and perceived threat to the Chinese state, house churches in China – especially larger ones – can face the constant threats of raids, forced entries and ID registrations. Sanctions can also be inflicted and Christian material like Bibles confiscated. Leaders and church members are often arrested or excessively fined to cut off the growth of the church. Believers who work in government, education or other public sectors could be reported to their workplace and discriminated against.

Unregistered churches in major cities are often targeted by the authorities to deter other Christians from gathering. As a result, house churches frequently divide into smaller, harder to detect groups and routinely change the location of their meetings to avoid discovery.

In Laos, the situation is similar: many churches come under the state-recognised Lao Evangelical Church (LEC). Whilst some house churches operate informally under this umbrella, they are still viewed as illegal because they don’t have official government permits to exist. As well as registration, the Laos government regulates churches through Lao Front, a part of the ruling Community Party. Decree 315 on Management and Protection of Religious Activities was instated by Lao Front in April 2025 – a piece of legislation which is often misused by officials to ban gatherings, expel converts or criminalise unregistered activity.

• Dear Heavenly Father, You reign over all powers and authorities in this world. Thank You for Your sovereignty and righteousness, and we pray that the Lao and Chinese governments would reflect Your heart for the vulnerable and downtrodden. Please guide the hearts of leaders and local authorities towards justice and peace, enabling Christians to worship you in freedom. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Many house churches avoid registration either because they cannot obtain permits or because they deliberately avoid it for fear of compromising on beliefs and freedoms. And so, churches worship underground – placing them at greater risk if they were to be discovered.

Whilst Christianity is not explicitly banned within the constitution, the ease of practising one’s faith depends on the local law enforcement and community. In most cases, believers face surveillance, harassment and punishment by local authorities. A large part of persecution also stems from social life and converts from Buddhism or animism can especially face intense backlash for abandoning community traditions. This can result in ostracism, coercion or punishment from families and village leaders.

Religious materials must be approved before they can be printed or imported, and the movement of pastors between provinces also requires permits, which are rarely granted.

Given the pressures and threats against the lives of believers in Laos, many are either forced underground through expulsion from their own villages or because they choose to practise their faith discreetly.

• Father, we pray that You would provide Bibles and other literature to churches in Laos – where these are not approved by the authorities, please keep them hidden from unwanted attention. Please empower Your people through Your Word and grow them in faith and perseverance. In Jesus’ name, who is the Living Word, amen.

Why are underground believers persecuted?

Previously, churches in China enjoyed greater freedom and operated under the radar of the government. However, this relative tolerance of unregistered house churches has rapidly diminished since 2018, when religious regulations began to be enforced more strictly. Christianity is increasingly perceived as a threat to the Chinese Communist Party’s values, leading to tighter restrictions – like the banning of under-18s from attending any church.

Churches are also considered threatening to the social, spiritual and national values of Laos. Buddhist and animist beliefs are deeply embedded in the fabric of life, meaning that those who turn their backs on traditional ways of life are believed to be angering spirits and bringing misfortune to the community. Christianity is also viewed as a foreign religion – conversion is considered akin to betraying one’s village unity and nation.

• Dear Lord, we pray for communities who are opposed to and suspicious of Christian influence in their villages. In Your mercy, please open blind eyes to the truth and goodness of the Bible and soften hostile hearts by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Please cast down lies and spiritual strongholds which stand against Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen.

How can I pray?

The threats against churches and the consequences of being discovered are myriad. A climate of fear and uncertainty can easily prevail in places like China and Laos – and yet, the church in these nations is growing. When a government cracks down on a large house church and its believers scatter into smaller groups, it is in fact aiding the spread of the gospel.

And these believers need your support. Knowing that the global church is standing with our brothers and sisters forced to live out their faith underground brings powerful hope. Here are some of the ways that you can intercede for them today.

• Pray for wisdom and resilience for churches as they navigate surveillance and pressure from authorities and communities
• Pray that God would grant churches creativity and faithfulness in how they meet, and that these meetings would have His divine protection
• Pray for endurance and comfort for leaders and church members who are currently in prison. Ask that God would give them the joy of Paul and Silas who sang of the Lord’s goodness, even in chains
• Ask God to bless the spread of the gospel amongst authorities and hostile or apathetic communities, that many hearts would encounter His saving grace and be won to Him
• Pray for displaced believers and families, that they would find shelter, provision, justice and loving communities
• Pray that underground believers would not give up under intense pressure but persevere in faith, knowing fellowship with Christ in their suffering
• Ask that the Lord would break down spiritual strongholds and replace lies about Christianity with the truth
• Pray that secret believers who feel alone in their communities would find other Christians and be encouraged
• Ask that God would bless new converts with boldness and eagerness to pursue a life worthy of the gospel, no matter the risk. Pray that their witness would draw many to the Lord Jesus.