China (MNN) — Bibles are harder and harder to come by for believers in China.

Why? It’s not clear. But Kurt Rovenstine of Bibles for China has been in contact with several churches in China, and they’re all sharing the same message: “We need Bibles, and we can’t get them.”

Rovenstine has a few theories. For one, the regulations imposed during the COVID-19 meant authorities allowed fewer registered churches. Fewer registered churches means fewer printed Bibles, whether because printers don’t think there’s a market or because “the numbers of Bibles that are printed, are determined by what the government deems is needed.”

Of course, there are always the more traditional obstacles. Rovenstine says there’s always a difficulty in arranging “distribution, transportation, getting people together to get [Bibles] out of the boxes into the hands of those that want it.”

Is the market really depleting? Absolutely not. In fact, Christians are just as desperate for the Word of God as ever. “There’s not any province that we work that we’ve worked in that has said ‘We don’t need Bibles’ or ‘we don’t want Bibles,’” Rovenstine says. “The need continues to be strong. Every call is, ‘Can we do another project? Are the funds available? If we can make it happen, is there a lot more work?’”

Bibles for China is pursuing new strategies that should help them get Bibles to churches in need. “Hopefully, in the next couple of months, we’ll have a better idea as to what specifically this looks like.”

Pray for believers hoping to dive deeper into the word of God. They have family who “have a strong heart for China, love their family who are back home, and want to provide them the scripture for them to grow in their faith so that they can become those who add value spiritually to those who remain in China.”

Yes, there is frustration, but pray that God would turn these obstacles into opportunities. Consider supporting Bibles for China directly.

Header photo courtesy of Bibles for China.