In the bustling cities and quiet rural areas of China, a remarkable spiritual movement has taken root and flourished. Despite decades of persecution and the absence of traditional church structures, house churches have multiplied exponentially, transforming the spiritual landscape of the nation. The secret to their resilience and growth lies in the simple yet profound principle of reproducing groups—a model that has made them one of the most dynamic expressions of Christianity in the world.
A Movement Rooted in Reproduction
The growth of house churches in China can be traced back to the mid-20th century when the government began suppressing organized religion. Without access to church buildings or official clergy, believers turned to small, informal gatherings in homes. These house churches became not just places of worship but hubs for discipleship and multiplication.
Rather than relying on professional pastors, these churches embraced a model where every believer was seen as a potential leader. Inspired by passages like 2 Timothy 2:2, they emphasized training and equipping members to lead their own groups. This approach allowed the movement to grow organically, even under intense persecution.
In short, these churches don’t look like churches in the west:
As we’ve already seen, many house churches today have between six and twenty members, and they typically multiply every six to nine months. Many of these churches are fathered by an unpaid elder who is usually working together with elders of other house churches for contact, teaching, and planning. Sizes and forms of house churches vary greatly. In former communist Bulgaria, some house churches even met in houses for celebrations, gathering up to 250 people quietly in order not to attract attention from neighbors. In some house churches in China, sometimes more than one thousand people have been baptized during such celebrations.
Some house churches meet at the same home, others in four or five or six different places during the week, allowing for a number of hosts to be involved. Such multisited house churches are especially suited for situations in which followers of Christ are persecuted or closely observed, in order not to attract too much attention toward one place. There are “house” churches that meet in caves, or on a bus, or in a hotel room, or under a tree, or in an office, or in a restaurant, or even on a boat. But the main heartbeat of the house church happens in the very houses of the members.[1]
How Reproducing Groups Work
The house church movement in China thrives on a simple yet effective strategy:
Small is Strong: Groups are intentionally kept small, often with fewer than 15 members. This size allows for deep relationships, accountability, and flexibility to avoid detection.
Prayer is Essential: It is argued that over 80% of the believers in the underground house churches in China believed in the Lord Jesus Christ because they have either seen or experienced some miracles, signs and wonders. How else can you convince atheists there is a One True God? “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.”624
One underground Church pastor upon returning to China from America, stated to his movement: “Our brothers in the West know how to plan, but we know how to pray.”[2]
Training Leaders: Each group identifies and mentors new leaders who can start their own groups. Leadership training is informal but intentional, often focused on biblical teaching, prayer, and practical skills for guiding a group.
Rapid Multiplication: Groups are designed to multiply within a short time frame, often six to twelve months. This ensures that the movement remains dynamic and responsive to new opportunities.
Discipleship Focus: The primary goal of each group is to make disciples who can make disciples. This discipleship emphasis keeps the movement rooted in spiritual growth and mission.
Stories of Transformation
The power of reproducing groups is evident in the countless stories of transformation emerging from China’s house church movement. One such story is that of Li Wei, a factory worker in a major city. Li Wei was introduced to a house church by a coworker. Within months, he became a Christian and joined a small group. Encouraged by his group leader, Li Wei began sharing his faith with his coworkers and eventually started a group in his own apartment.
“I never thought I could lead a group,” Li Wei says. “But my leader showed me how to teach the Bible and pray with others. Now, I see God using me to change lives.” Today, Li Wei’s group has multiplied into three groups, each reaching different corners of the factory community.
In rural areas, the story is similar. Mei Lin, a farmer’s wife, began hosting a small group in her home after attending a training session led by a house church network. “At first, it was just my family and a few neighbors,” Mei Lin recalls. “But as we prayed and studied the Bible together, more people came. Soon, we had to start another group in a nearby village.”
[1] Wolfgang Simson and George Barna, The House Church Book: Rediscover the Dynamic, Organic, Relational, Viral Community Jesus Started (Carol Stream, IL: BarnaBooks, 2015).
[2] Gospel Fellowships, Principles for the Gathering of Believers under the Headship of Jesus Christ (Abbotsford, British Columbia: Gospel Fellowships, 2013).
