This article is published in collaboration with Open Doors.

For two years, Lu Mei* was regularly interrogated by the police in China. She lived under constant surveillance, and the psychological pressure affected her entire family deeply. Today, the situation has become easier, but Lu Mei still faces persecution and is prepared for the possibility that it may continue in the future.

Lu Mei* is in her forties and originally comes from central China. She became a Christian as a teenager and studied theology in her hometown. After getting married, she and her husband moved to northwestern China to serve the Lord together.

Ten years ago, local police carried out a raid against a group of Christians in the area where Lu Mei lives. Because she was a church leader, she was arrested and interrogated. It was only after 28 days that Lu Mei was finally allowed to return home to her husband and their two children.

Forced to Bring Her Daughter to the Police Station
During the two years following her release, police officers frequently came to Lu Mei’s home without warning to interrogate her. There was little she could do to protect herself or her family. On two occasions, she was detained again.

One time, when Lu Mei was summoned to the police station for questioning, her husband was working abroad, and she had no choice but to bring along her four-year-old daughter. Later, relatives came to pick up the child, but Lu Mei herself was held overnight at the station.

The constant interrogations placed enormous pressure on the entire family. Lu Mei’s husband became increasingly depressed, and their children grew anxious and fearful. Later, Lu Mei also discovered that she had been blacklisted, making it extremely difficult for her to travel, find work, or carry out financial transactions. She also remained under continuous surveillance.

“It’s strange,” Lu Mei says quietly, “how you can still be here, breathing, and yet feel as though you have already been erased.”

“I Felt Unbearably Alone”
Lu Mei felt like an outcast. She could neither work nor earn money, and the family struggled financially.

“My phone was monitored, which made it difficult to communicate freely with other church members. As a church leader, I did not dare show weakness, because I was afraid my weakness would cause others to stumble. I felt isolated and unbearably alone,” Lu Mei explains.

She cries as she speaks about those difficult years. But when asked whether she ever considered giving up her faith, her answer is immediate and clear. She shakes her head without hesitation.

The Pandemic Shifted the Authorities’ Focus
In 2018, Lu Mei was finally removed from the authorities’ blacklist. She also began working outside the home to support her family. After 2020, government attention shifted heavily toward the pandemic, and the surveillance around her eased. Even though it would now be easier for her to leave the area, she has no plans to do so.

“Ever since the day I came to faith as a young girl, I have never once considered giving up,” she says.

Training Through Open Doors Partners
Recently, Lu Mei participated in persecution preparedness training organized by Open Doors partners in other provinces of China. There, she was reunited with several former classmates from theology school whom she had not seen for many years, and she also made new friends. For Lu Mei, those days brought comfort through God’s Word and warmth through loving fellowship.

Lu Mei knows that persecution will most likely continue in the future. But through the training, she experienced healing and renewal, and was reminded that she is seen both by God and by His people in China and around the world.

*Name changed for security reasons.