Renowned Chinese evangelist Rev. Stephen Tong recently issued a heartfelt message to the persecuted church in China, urging believers to remain steadfast in faith amid suffering and to face trials with patience and courage. Speaking through the Stephen Tong Evangelistic Ministries International(STEMI), he described the persecution of Chinese Christians by the government as a divine test—one that refines believers and strengthens their witness.
His message came in response to the recent arrests of more than 30 pastors and ministry staff from Zion Church of Beijing, and it echoed the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), observed annually on November 9 by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). The video quickly gained significant attention online, receiving nearly 12,000 views within a day.
“Dear brothers and sisters,” Tong began, “I speak today with deep sorrow to the suffering Christians. You are my beloved brothers, redeemed, washed, and bought by the precious blood of Christ. Your suffering is my suffering—I feel it deeply.”
He reminded Chinese believers that persecution of Christians was long foretold in Scripture, citing the message to the church in Smyrna from the Book of Revelation: “Some of you will be put in prison for ten days. This period of tribulation is not endless—it has limits.”
Referring to pastors and ministers who have endured imprisonment for years—three, seven, or even ten—Tong encouraged the faithful not to lose heart: “Though these days are hard to bear and seem long, they are still limited. May the Lord grant you endurance to the end, that you may emerge victorious from suffering. Then your faith will be strengthened, your courage and perseverance will be counted as precious before God, and you will become examples to the saints and a lasting testimony in history.”
Tong emphasized that persecution has made the Chinese church spiritually mature and resilient: “Many churches in the West live in freedom and comfort, but their faith is not firm and their spirituality not deep. Their example seldom moves or inspires others. The Chinese church is different—because of persecution, God has used suffering as His refining tool, making believers strong and courageous witnesses for Christ.”
He drew on the legacy of Chinese Christian martyrs and leaders such as Wang Mingdao and Watchman Nee, whose faith under fire helped shape one of the fastest-growing churches in the world. “Through this process,” he said, “God has forged the Chinese church into something harder than iron and purer than gold.”
At the same time, Tong denounced the motives of those who persecute the church as corrupt and self-serving: “All who persecute the church are people whose lives are full of flaws. Since the Roman Empire, persecutors have feared losing power and prestige. They feared that Christians might harm their authority or dignity. Yet Christians have never intended to overthrow governments—we only seek to live faithfully before God, doing good, promoting virtue, truth, and beauty for the blessing of society.”
Quoting Scripture, Tong assured believers that God remembers their tears and pain: “The Lord says, ‘Be patient until the number of martyrs is complete, and then I will avenge you.’”
He concluded with a message of blessing and hope: “May God bless China with a day of church revival, when the faith of the saints is strengthened and they become powerful witnesses for the Lord throughout the world. I pray that God will be with you—granting strength, courage, patience, and faithfulness—until the day you see Him face to face.”
