*ARCHIVED OCTOBER 2007 // CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT DATA
China (click here to view a satellite map)
China, East Asia
Population: 1,306,313,812
Christians: 7-8%
Dominant Religion: Non-Religious
Persecution Ranking: 10th
Political Leader: President Hu Jintao
Religious Freedom in Constitution: Yes
During the 1950s, the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strongly pressured Chinese churches to follow the concept of 'Three Self' (self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating) which had been developed earlier by Protestant missionaries and Chinese church leaders. However, 'Three Self' as advocated by the CCP and its supporters within the churches merely replaced dominance by Western missions with dominance by the CCP.
In 1958 most Protestant churches were closed under the pretence of unification under the 'Three Self' banner, and the government-controlled Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) was set up. All Protestant churches were required to register with this movement. Simultaneously, the Roman Catholic Church was attacked for its continued loyalty to Rome. The Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) was formed and bishops ordained without Papal permission. Loyal Catholics went underground, and many bishops were imprisoned for over two decades for their refusal to accept a Communist-controlled church. Protestants, particularly evangelicals, suffered in a similar way for their beliefs. In the last few years, there have been increasing crackdowns by the Chinese authorities against Christians. There have also been numerous arrests in recent months of Christians involved in unregistered house churches.
Prayer Points
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Pray for an end to the escalating crackdowns against Chinese Christians and that the Chinese authorities will stop being so suspicious of Christians and respect their right to religious liberty. |
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Pray for the safety and unconditional release from prison of all Christians imprisoned in China for their Christian activities or beliefs. |
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Thank God for the Christian revival in China and pray that this revival will spread throughout the country and grow from strength to strength. |
Almighty God, we thank You for China's Christian revival. We pray that it will continue to grow and that China's Christians will be strong and mature in their faith. We pray that Christians in China will be able to obtain the Bibles and Christian literature they urgently need but often don't receive because of government restrictions. O LORD, end the crackdowns against China's Christians, and let the Chinese authorities adopt a much more positive attitude and policy towards them. We ask that You protect and free from prison all those Chinese Christians detained for their religious activities or beliefs. |
