New DVD Set Documents History of China's Underground Church
by Allie Martin
February 11, 2004
(AgapePress) - A three-year project to document the history, struggles, and triumphs of the persecuted Church in China has been released.Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) has released the four-DVD set of a documentary project entitled "The Cross -- Jesus in China." This made-for-the-screen record of the tumultuous 50-year history of Christianity in China incorporates live footage and first-person accounts and captures the miraculous story of the Chinese Church's growth amid turbulent political transition and the unrelenting oppression of a hostile and restrictive Communist regime.
The Cross seeks to address the question of how the Chinese Christian movement grew, despite Communist control and persecution, from 700,000 members in 1949 to approximately 70 million members today . For the project, VOM hired Christians who are active in underground house churches in China. The DVD series includes interviews with house church leaders as well as video of underground church services.
VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton says the story of the persecuted Chinese Church is one that needs to be told. "We've got to understand that these are our brothers and sisters," he says, "and so if somebody is mistreating them, I need to know that. I need to be aware, so I can pray effectively, first and, secondly, so I can take action on their behalf," he says.
Nettleton notes that the filmmakers and crew who created the film are devout Christians who had to face many dangers and obstacles to complete the project. They courageously pushed deep into China to interview thousands of Christians, and were often kept under hidden surveillance or even followed. And on at least one occasion, the VOM spokesman says, all the group's camera equipment was confiscated by the police.
"This is underground footage," Nettleton says. "It was not legal; this is not a big production where they got permission from the government and came in as journalists. They went in underground, and they give a true picture of the underground Church."
But the result of the filmmakers' faith-filled persistence and that of the crew is an important historical record that reveals the truth about Christianity in China, encourages Chinese churches and other congregations around the world, and offers new insight for all who are concerned about China's future.
The four DVD set The Cross -- Jesus in China, available from VOM, features three episodes and one short subject film and has a total running time of approximately four hours.
