Underground Christians in China use faith and tech to reach out to followers at Easter amid Covid-19 crisis
- Churches use WeChat and Zoom to meet online while big gatherings are banned
- China’s squeeze on Christian groups is stoking defiance among some followers
Pastor Chen broke the bread and held the wine as he gave his blessings, following the Good Friday Holy Communion tradition that has been celebrated by Christians around the world for centuries – except there was no one to distribute the bread and wine to.
“We are facing a situation that has never been experienced before in the last 2,000 years,” said Chen (not his real name) to his congregation of about 1,000. They were taking part in an online service held over Zoom.
“Today we are separated in different places in our motherland and around the world. Maybe you are at home with your family, or even alone,” Chen said. “But we know that the coronavirus cannot intervene in God’s work in our lives, and our distance does not separate us from coming as one in Christ. We now commemorate Jesus who sacrificed for us.”
He then asked his congregation who were standing in front of web cameras to take the bread and wine, representing Jesus Christ’s body and blood in crucifixion, that was prepared at home by each of the church members.
In China, church groups have turned to WeChat and Zoom for their services since late January after religious gatherings were banned as part of the strict social distancing rules imposed to contain the virus.
