In one sense, it’s interesting that in our country you have to get approval to be a church and to have a 501c organization through the IRS here. You can only build where they’ll let you in a zoning [area], you have to build according to code, and you have to have parking restrictions. We have more government involvement here than most people might recognize or might be conscious of, but that hasn’t limited us so far. The United States hasn’t limited our expression of worship. That’s what we would pray for over there, whether that’s for the registered or unregistered church.

CW: So you feel like in the registered church there isn’t any restriction on expressing your religion?

Bailey: Well, I think that there probably are in some different situations. [The government’s] biggest concern obviously is the cults, and making sure that money isn’t taken out of the culture and controlling rebellions and rebellious movements. There’s fear on both sides that goes back hundreds of years. There was the communist regime where Christianity obviously was outlawed, discouraged and prohibited, but that’s changing.

But I know that there’s a saying that anything you hear about going on in China is going on somewhere in China—liberty to great restriction. I’m sure it’s very regional and very selective.

CW: How was your interaction with the church members as Kuanjie?

Bailey: I remembered a number of the people and they remembered me, having been there two years ago at the church where we shared a service with the President. I went to another church service and met some new folks. We had mutual acquaintances—we have students as Dallas Seminary from both the house church and the registered church. I met a number of people who attended a church that one of our students had pastored before he came to do his masters and doctoral work at the seminary. And so, it’s great fellowship and great encouragement. [There are lots of] people who had studied here in the States—you know, doctors, lawyers—who are continuing to walk with the Lord. That was just great fellowship with them.

CW: Since the institutional church is so free and so open, at least in your experience, it seems funny that people would risk the persecution they face by joining a house church. Why do you think that is?

Bailey: I would stress that the openness in the registered church is probably regional, and even exceptional. I think that’s beginning to change. I hope it is. I think the years of distrust because of the heavy persecution, the limitation that has existed for centuries and for generations has created distrust on both sides – the fear of movements and rebellions, the fear of persecution on the other… Unless God miraculously heals it, I think that great divide is going to take a long time to heal. Again, the healing depends on whether genuine faith is allowed and the freedom to express that faith.