As Christianity becomes more common in mainland China and loses its traditional stigma in more and more social settings, at what point does the long-standing concept of using “platforms” for engaging in ministry within China become a counterproductive way of thinking?  More to the point, is this strategy of claiming to be doing one thing in order to win opportunities to secretly engage in something else still a necessary or valuable means for effective ministry in China today?

Will there ever be a time when such approaches to China ministry are inappropriate?  What would be some of the indicators that might suggest that such “covers” are no longer necessary?  Let’s use this space to talk through the pros and cons of this technique given where China is today and the changes she is currently experiencing.