Population: 1,350 million (or 1.3 billion people)
[Good News* …..possibly 130,000 Christians]
Capital: Beijing (Peking): 13 million
Other huge Cities: Shanghai 16.6 million, Chongqing 9.4 million, Tianjin 7.9 million
Life Expectancy: 72.9 years
Church in China: “God has protected and grown the Church in China on a scale unforeseen by anyone a few decades ago” (Operation World).
A Outline of the Dynasties/Republics:
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Cultural Revolution (1966 – 1976): Chairman Mao Zedong caused great suffering for the Chinese people, when he implemented his Cultural Revolution. It is estimated that about 20 million lost their lives during that period of harsh and repressive rule. Strict Control over religious groups, by government was instigated under the Communist Regime.
Religious Groups Officially recognised and strictly controlled:
1. Buddhism
2. Daoism
3. Islam
4. Protestant (TSPM – Three Self Patriotic Movement)
5. Catholic (CPA) – Catholic Patriotic Association
However – The unofficial Christian House Church Movement has been amazing.“The state recently recognized that there are over 300 million religious believers and over 50 million Christians in unregistered networks” (OM, p. 215) The massive growth of the Christian Church here in China is unprecedented in human history.
Prayer Points:
A. Thankfulness for (1) the survival and growth of the church (2) The faith and commitment of Christians (3) Christians are now found in every stratum of Chinese society (4) Christians are engaging in social issues (5) the government has a changing attitude towards the church (6) There have been many welcome changes (7) There’s a growing unity within the Church (8) Local hearts have Missionary vision way beyond China itself (see the ‘Back to Israel’ movement) (9) The Media has wonderful publishing opportunities for Scripture within China.
B. Petitions for (1) Wise use of the window of opportunity for spiritual receptivity (2) China’s rising prominence in the world stage (3) China remains officially atheist, (4) Massive powers and forces at work within Chinese society, some not assisting the gospel, such as restriction of information, corruption and scandal, urbanization, ethnic unrest and political and economic reforms, (5) Challenges in Population Growth(6) Social and health needs (7) A looming environmental crisis.
Pray for the Church in China to grow and flourish and influence the nation for blessing and good, as yeast in flour for baking.
Pray for the links with Chinese Christian students in overseas countries to be part of that leavening effect.
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” (Mt 13:33 )
Provinces & Municipalities Have had a Varied Response to the Gospel:
Anhui Province: Capital – Hefei (approximately 9 million house Christians; 16.2% Christian (2nd largest after Henan)
Beijing Municipality: CHINA’S Capital (4.5% Christian)
Chongqing Municipality: Christian 9.8%
Fujian Province: Capital – Fuzhou
Gansu Province: Capital – Lanzhou
Guangdong Province: Capital Guangzhou (Canton) 8,9 million, Christian 4.5%
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Capital – Nanning
Guizhou Province: Capital – Guiyang
Hainan Province: Capital – Haikou (A tropical island facing Vietnam, the southernmost and smallest province, tourist haven)
Hebei Province: Capital – Shijiazhuang
Heilongjiang Province: Capital – Harbin 4.3m (China’s most northerly Province)
Henan Province: Capital – Zhengzhou, Christian 18.3%
Hubei Province: Capital – Wuhan (Astride the Yangtze River; Wuhan known for education)
Hunan Province: Capital – Changsha
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Nei Mongol): Capital – Hohhat
Jiangsu Province: Capital – Nanjing, Christian 9.2%
Jiangxi Province: Capital – Nanchang
Jilin Province: Capital – Chang-chun
Liaoning Province: Capital – Shenyang
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region: Muslim 34%, Christian 4.0%
Qinghai Province: Capital – Xining
Shaanxi Province: Capital – Xian (The Ancient Capital)
Shandong Province: Capital – Jinan (3.2 million), Christian 5.1%
Shanghai Municipality: China’s largest and wealthiest city (after Hong Kong), Population: 19.5 million
Shanxi Province: Capital – Taiyuan
Sichuan Province: Capital – Chengdu (the Panda Province)
Tianjin Municipality: The Port City of Beijing
Tibet – Xizang Autonomous Region: Capital – Lhasa, Lamaistic Buddhist 80%
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Muslim 61.4% Christian 4.1% Lamaistic Buddhist 1.4%
Yunnan Province: Capital – Kunming (3.1 million), in a Province of 46 million, Christian 7.2%
Zhejiang Province: Capital – Hangzhou, Christian 19.5%
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