Interviews with Xiqiu "Bob" Fu

Yes. Those international NGOs who are able to get into China, of course they have to be facing enormous pressure to work within the system, within the government parameters. But I think they can still work in a principled way by at least outreaching to the other civil society organizations like the house church movement.

I mean it’s not a formal NGO, but it’s recognized by many sociologists as the largest NGO in China. You know, with 50 to 60 million members. And share the same faith standing with the same principles. And seeking for fundamental freedom of religion in China. And at least in the work places, for those NGOs, they should protect their basic religious freedom.

And when those house church members are hired in these work places – no matter in the development program or the environmental protection program or HIV/AIDS program. If those members are house church members working within these organizations, and if they are pressured by the Chinese government – or in some cases if they are persecuted by the Chinese government – these international NGOs should stand up for the employees.

At least to tell the Chinese government that they, the NGOs, respect the freedom of worship. And to persecute their employee based on their faith is not a welcoming thing. I think these kinds of actions can make a difference. And I honestly do not think enough actions have been taken by these international NGOs inside China. And often, when they are facing pressure by the Chinese government agencies in regard to their employees, they often give in too much. Some even fire or pressure their employees to resign for simply that reason.

In terms of the cooperation or the impact of the engagement of the international religious organizations, I would say, yes, some organizations are actively promoting religious freedom in China by working and learning from these persecuted faithful. And for instance, the Southern Baptist Convention, they have their [Ethics and] Religious Liberty Commission. They have been actively advocating for the religious freedom in China and other countries.

And other organizations who chose to work with the government-sanctioned church, and which I understand there are some dynamic of interest to work with the government-sanctioned churches. But I hope by choosing to work with the government-sanctioned church, or with the Chinese government, they would not turn a blind eye to the persecuted, who are the majority. And regrettably some chose to really not only work with the Chinese government and the government-sanctioned churches, but also to speak with the same voice with the Chinese government propaganda.

Unfortunately those international organizations and even evangelical organizations chose to not only work with the Chinese government and its affiliated religious institutions, but also speak up with the same propaganda voice in the international arena. So in essence, they became accomplice with the persecutors. I think that’s an unfortunate development.

Bob Fu was a leader in the student democracy movement at Tiananmen Square in 1989. He later converted to Christianity and became a house church pastor and a founder, along with his wife Heidi, of a Bible school. In 1996, he was arrested and jailed for running a secret bible school. After his release, he and his wife escaped to Hong Kong. They were admitted to the United States as refugees a few days before the handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China in 1997.

Fu founded the China Aid Association (CAA) in 2002. CAA monitors and reports on religious freedom in China, particularly focusing on the fate of believers who belong to banned or unofficial house churches, which encompass 60 to 80 million followers. CAA issues frequent news releases on cases of religious persecution involving Protestant house church congregations and assists victims to assert their right to freedom of conscience and freedom of religious practice in China.

CAA also provides a forum for discussion and information exchange among experts on religion, law, and human rights in China through its bilingual journal, the China Law & Religion Monitor, and a bilingual website. Its headquarters are in Midland, Texas, where Fu now lives and works.