China
is the world's most populous country, with a continuous culture stretching back
nearly 4,000 years. Many of the elements that make up the foundation of the
modern world originated in China, including paper, gunpowder, credit banking,
the compass and paper money.
The
People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded in 1949 after the Communist Party
defeated the previously dominant nationalist Kuomintang in a civil war. The
leadership of Mao Tse-Tung oversaw the often brutal implementation of a
Communist vision of society. Millions died in the Great Leap Forward - a
program of state control over agriculture and rapid industrialization - and the
Cultural Revolution, a chaotic attempt to root out elements seen as hostile to
Communist rule.
Christianity
was first introduced to China 600 years after the time of Christ by Nestorians
from Persia and Syria, but the modern missions movement began with the arrival
of Robert Morrison of the London Missionary Society in 1807. Before his death
in 1834, he produced a Chinese dictionary and a full translation of the Bible.
James
Hudson Taylor established the China Inland Mission in 1865 and appealed for
1,000 missionaries to enter the Chinese interior. For the next 30 years, China
witnessed the first wave of frontier missionary work while missions based on
the coast spread into major cities throughout China. A three-fold approach to
mission work was adopted: medicine, education and discipleship. Nearly every
mission established clinics that grew into hospitals. Primary schools opened
for children and some of these later developed into high schools and 13
Christian universities. Bible teaching and discipleship also resulted in new
churches. By 1927 there were more than 8,000 Protestant missionaries in China
and half a million baptized believers.
Under Communist
rule since 1949, China has moved away from the Maoist radicalism that led to
millions of deaths in the 1950s and 1960s, but the party has kept a tight grip
on state and society. However, Mao's death in 1976 ushered in a new leadership
and economic reform. In the early 1980s the government dismantled collective
farming and again allowed private enterprise.
God
is working mightily in China. Every day
25,000 people are coming to the Lord. The Chinese Communist Party officially
recognizes Christianity. Now there are over 130 million born again believers in
China. That's more than any other countries in the world. Signs, wonders
and miracles are the primary reasons for China's explosive church growth.
The
Xinhua Bookstore is the only bookstore chain in China. It is owned and
"managed" by the Communist Party (controlling what people read). There are 15,000 Xinhua retails outlets in
China carrying tens of thousands of topics and subjects. However, you cannot
find a single Bible in these state run book stores. You can find Chinese
Bibles in its three Xinhua Bookstores in the United States but not in China.
Bible in China is regarded same as pornography thus banned from public use.
The
unavailability and shortage of Bibles in China has invited all sorts of cult
groups in the underground churches. Eastern Lightning is one of the largest
false groups creating havoc in China.
This
Wednesday, we're returning to China. We will train pastors and leaders and
deliver thousands of Bibles to the house church leaders. It costs only $3 per
Bible. Will you please pray? If you can help financially, please click on the
link below. We appreciate your love and compassion for the persecuted believers
in China. We're honored to represent you there. God will bless you richly as
you bless those who are oppressed. Thank you for your help!
"Blessed are those who have regard
for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble" (Psalm 41:1 NIV).
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