we are in a democratic country,

where we can freely believe in God,

and I have to admit, I'm very happy to be here! (Yes!)

In China, there is no religious freedom.

The Communist Party doesn't allow it!

At home, Christians don't dare sing hymns too loudly.

That's very true.

And if they want to go to meetings,

they'll have to fight a guerilla war.

A guerrilla war? (Yeah.)

Oh? Well, you're going to have to explain that one.

What I mean is (Yeah?)

they have to avoid the eyes of the CCP,

learn to counter surveillance, ditch trackers, use their brains.

It's not much different than war.

If you're talking about the CCP's eyes, (Yeah?)

every single venue and industry has them.

They're unavoidable!

Absolutely!

I've met quite a few people like that. (Oh?)

Let's use me as an example. ('K.)

Leaving my neighborhood, there's always someone I have to avoid.

Security guard?

The old committee lady!

Why would you need to avoid her?

Ever since I started believing in God, (Yeah.)

the neighborhood committee lady has been very "friendly" with me. (Really?)

She's always hanging around my house,

and she's always saying to wear a coat or bring an umbrella.

Wow! She really cares about you!

When she sees me,

"Hey, Xiao Zhen, (Yeah?)

where are you going?"

"Hey, Xiao Zhen,

why weren't the lights on in your house last night?"

"Hey, Xiao Zhen,

why haven't I seen you come home the last few days?"

"Hey, Xiao Zhen—" (Don't worry, that's enough!)

This old lady really sounds like a woman with a beard—abnormal!

Yep, you are absolutely right. (Yeah?)

One day, I was going downstairs,

and I accidentally overheard that old lady on the phone in the hallway.

"Hello? Director,

I got the new policy from the Central Committee!

I won't drag my feet. I'll take care of it.

I'll tell you what,

I even follow Zhen Xin to the market when she buys cucumbers, (What?)

and I stay closer when she goes to meetings!"

Oh boy!

She's really just a devil with a pretty face! (Yeah.)

A monster in disguise! (Yep.)

Hey, you have to think of a way to avoid her!

Well. (Yeah?)

When I leave my community, I dodge left and right,

take back alleys and shortcuts, and oh man …

Couldn't shake her?

Only after a lot of work.

Wow. Finally! What a relief!

You think it's that easy?

What happened?

Listen to what I'll tell you next. ('K.)

I got out on the road, I was walking along,

and I felt like there was someone following me.

Following you?

I glanced back,

and I saw a man in sunglasses. (What?)

When I walked faster, he walked faster.

When I went slower, he went slower.

I went left, he went left.

I went right, he did too.

He was matching my pace and footsteps exactly!

He must have been a thief?

At first that's what I thought.

I retie my shoe and look back …

Xiao Hou from the police station.

You're saying that the police were watching you?

Oh no!

That's just … (I was so nervous!)

All I could do was pray to God!

Yes. Rely on God.

Well! (Yeah?)

Right in front of me there happened to be a big market.

I started walking faster, turned into the market,

and went straight into the bathroom. ('K. Hold on!)

You're hiding in the bathroom?

You could be trapped there!

Don't worry! I had a great plan.

What plan?

I put on a wig (Oh?)

and some glasses, (Yeah?)

and changed my coat!

You certainly are prepared for this kind of thing!

I looked in the mirror, (Yeah?)

and never mind that police officer outside,

not even my own mother would have recognized me!

You know, that's called being

Right! I have to use my wits to fight him. (Yes.)

Once I had my disguise on,

I casually strolled out of the bathroom. (Yeah.)

Xiao Hou didn't recognize me as I went by!

You need faith, courage and brains if you want to believe in God in China.

That's right.

Once I shook that pair of eyes, I continued on my way,

and reached the courtyard of Sister Zhao's neighborhood.

Oh, she enters the courtyard.

I saw the old men and women tai chi outside.

Tai Chi is good exercise. Especially for seniors.

As I passed them,

I suddenly realized they were having a little meeting.

What kind of meeting?

The old lady said, (Yeah?)

"Hey, Mr. Sun,

who is that person up ahead?

Hey, I don't think I've ever seen her before."

And what did Mr. Sun say?

"Oh, it's Xiao Wang, just moved in next door."

Oh, she's new here.

"Do you think that person looks like a believer in God? (What?)

There's a reward if we report them to the government!"

These people …

"I think the thought of that money is making you crazy!

That's my son-in-law!"

All these old men and women are spies the CCP pays too!

Yes, they are!

Then the old woman said, (What?)

"No, I'm talking about the woman behind your son-in-law.

Whose relative is she? I've never seen her before."

Oh no! She was looking at you!

The moment she finished speaking, (Yeah?)

a woman with a red armband showed up.

"Hey, that woman looks like a believer in God!

Quick,

everyone pay attention. See whose house she goes into."

Here is trouble again!

Then this Mr. Sun said,

"Huh!

If you ask me, the government's going off the rails here.

They're not breaking the law by simply believing in God.

Why is it any of your business?"

Exactly!

"They're driving ordinary people crazy, making us all watch each other.

Isn't that inciting the masses against each other?

Oh, it's just like it was in the Cultural Revolution.

They're making it impossible for people to live in peace!" (Yeah.)

Mr. Sun knows what he's talking about.

So, what did the woman in the red armband say to that?

"Huh! I know all that you said,

but the government gives you a reward if you report on believers!

Who doesn't like money?"

Even after dirty money?

"Alright, enough.

I don't have time to talk to you.

I need to go find out what she's doing!"

This is too dangerous for you!

My heart was thumping in my chest.

I'd be nervous too!

That woman in the red armband was coming straight for me.

Well, get out of there!

Where could I go?

Sister Zhao's house was right there, but I couldn't go inside.

Why not?

If she called the police,

they'd arrest me and it would expose Zhao's house!

That's true. You should just go back home!

She had just accepted God's work in the last days.

I had to support her by fellowshiping the truth.

Between a rock and a hard place.

I was …

There's no time to waste. Hurry up and do something!

I said a prayer to God,

and suddenly I remembered God's words,

Amen!

God's words gave me faith and courage!

Thanks be to God!

Hey! (Yeah?)

I got it!

You know what to do?

"Hello?

Mom, I'm bringing Miss Zhao her medicine.

I'll be back in a bit.

Okay, I'm hanging up."

Oh! You pretended to deliver medicine!

And after that?

And after that, Mr. Sun said,

"You see that? She is only delivering medicine."

Yep.

"I think you all are way too oversensitive.

You think everyone's a believer in God!"

Well, at least you were safe.

Yeah.

I went to Sister Zhao's door, and knocked gently.

She opened the door?

Her neighbor's door opened too.

A young man stuck his head out and looked me up and down like a thief.

Why?

"Oh, Miss Zhao, you have a guest?

Is she one of your relatives?

I don't think I've ever seen her before."

Being watched again!

They have eyes everywhere!

Shocked, Sister Zhao looked at me.

In your disguise, there was no way she could recognize you!

I raced up to answer.

Go.

"Miss Zhao, I've brought your medicine."

What did she say?

She caught on right away.

"Oh, this is my colleague.

Come on in."

Oh good! She made it inside.

Sister Zhao and I went inside and shut the door.

So scary!

Your journey sounds like you were walking through a minefield!

But now it's time for your meeting.

But,

Sister Zhao seemed really worried.

What about?

"Sister Zhen Xin, a few days ago,

the neighborhood committee came to my house

and told me that the government decided that anyone who believes in God

will be fired from their jobs, arrested, and sentenced.

Their children's army, university, and public servant qualifications will be canceled.

Their parents will also be punished."

In China, it's impossible for Christians to survive!

"Right now, my neighbor already suspects I believe in God.

If the CCP finds about this,

what will happen to my parents and children?"

It sounds like she was losing faith.

I read her a passage from God's word:

Amen!

The CCP is a devil, an embodiment of Satan.

They know that the moment God finishes His work of salvation on earth,

the CCP is doomed. (That's right!)

That's why it's always scheming to disrupt and destroy God's work,

and why it so frenziedly arrests and persecutes Christians.

The CCP would rather drag people down to hell with it

than allow them to believe in God.

It is truly an evil demon.

That's absolutely right!

But without the crazed actions of the CCP,

would we be able to see clearly how it corrupts and harms people?

Nope!

Would we be able to see its demonic nature?

No way!

Would we be able to loathe it and unwaveringly follow God?

Not at all!

The CCP's persecution

allows us to see its essence and nature of resisting God.

We also know God's wisdom and almightiness,

and that God is lovable.

Exactly!

The CCP doesn't realize

that its arrests actually help God to perfect all His chosen people!

Amen!

So after that fellowship, how did she feel?

She understood God's will and regained her faith!

That's Great! Thanks be to God!

"Knock, knock, knock …"

Someone at the door?