News From China's church - Vol. 2 No. 2
By Editorial Staff
Published April 2008
- MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS
A new survey has determined that there are approximately 30 million Protestant Christians in China. The province-by-province survey, commissioned by News Network International, includes those attending the state-sanctioned Protestant Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) churches and those meeting in independent and underground house churches. The figure is nearly four times greater than the official TSPM census of 9.2 million Protestants, although some say the numbers may be too conservative, and that there are actually more Christians in China. According to the study, only 30 percent of China’s Protestant population attends TSPM churches, while at least 70 percent worship unregistered house churches or meeting points. (NNI, China News and Church Report)
- ENGLAND’S ARCHBISHOP VISITS CHINA
Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the 80-million-member Anglican Church, recently completed an 11-day visit to China to meet with leaders of the country’s official Protestant Church, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). Carey visited Nanjing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing, where he met primarily with TSPM church leaders, but had contact with some government officials as well. The stated aim of his visit was “to encourage and support Chinese Christians” and “to be seen as a bridge-builder.” Carey did not meet with leaders of China’s vast underground house church movement.
(China News and Church Report, South China Morning Post)
- BEIJING STUDENTS ATTEND CHURCH
In Beijing’s university district, the Haidian Protestant Church is filled to capacity every Sunday, mostly with students. (Newsweek)
- MORE REGULATIONS, MORE PRESSURE
Christians in China’s unofficial house churches say that 1994 government regulations regarding religion have increased pressure on them. Under the new regulations, they say they are totally unprotected and open to persecution if they continue to refuse to register their meetings. While the government is stopping short of mass arrests, there does seem to be a widespread effort in many areas to force house church Christians to register with the authorities and to stop their evangelistic activities, which have been so successful. (NNI)
- TIGHTER CONTROLS ON CHURCHES FUEL GROWTH
According to a former Chinese government worker, authorities in Beijing have started a campaign to tighten control for the next two years. The clampdown, referred to as zhonghe zhili, or “comprehensive rule,” reportedly began on September 1 and will run until August 31, 1996. Targets of control include criminals, evil elements, triads, armed robbers, drug rings, prostitutes, pornographic businesses, corrupt party and government officials, advocates of democracy, those having illegal pregnancies, those engaged in illegal printing, those spreading superstition, and those involved in illegal religious activities, which would include China’s many house church Christians. Wide-scale arrests of habitual criminals, gamblers, and others began in late August. On average, 30 to 60 persons were arrested from each township in central China. About 100,000 people were taken into custody during the first two weeks of September. House church leaders feel that any increase in persecution will not be able to stop Christians from their ongoing evangelistic efforts. In fact, they believe it might even help to stimulate further church growth. (China News and Church Report, Radio France International)
- INTELLECTUALS STUDY CHRIST
Intellectuals have always played a significant role in China’s history. Traditionally, officials in China have been chosen from among the intellectual elite. At this critical time, many Chinese intellectuals are looking to Christianity and wondering what role it played in the development of Western culture and democracy. Many scholars are studying and writing about Christian theology and the history of Christianity. (China Ministries International)
- REVIVAL IN CHINA
In Sichuan Province, more than 90,000 people became Christians in a recent four-month period. More than 40,000 became Christians in one month, and the rest converted after a major crackdown on Christians. More than 10,000 were water baptized in a two-month period. This is just one of many places in China where Christianity is growing rapidly. A house church leader in Guangdong recently requested 100,000 Bibles and Christian literature from an outside supplier. He said that would satisfy only the immediate need of those to whom he ministers.
- BLACK MARKET BIBLES
Ministries that bring Bibles into China say many of the books end up on the black market where they bring high prices. Chinese claiming to be Christians receive deliveries of Bibles and other spiritual books and sell them to make a profit. A man from Pingdingshan, Henan Province, said he can sell a simplified character New Testament on the black market for RMB 30, while a study Bible with explanatory notes will sell for RMB 500. A similar report came from Anhui Province. Christians in these two provinces have annual incomes averaging RMB 700-800 a year, or about $100. (China News and Church Report)
- CHRISTIANS IMPRISONED
According to a report by the Washington-based Puebla Institute, at least 100 Protestant and Catholic clergy and church leaders are still imprisoned or under house arrest throughout the country. This figure, Puebla admits, is likely to be only a fraction of the true number of Christians in laogai (labor camps). More than 30 new cases of church workers being sentenced to prison terms of up to three years were recorded in the past year, Puebla said. Most have been detained for distributing Christian literature, holding unregistered Bible training seminars or meeting with foreigners. In Henan and Anhui, commonly regarded as the center of the Chinese Protestant house church movement (unregistered churches), PSB officials have arrested hundreds of unregistered church members in the past 12 months. (NNI)
Forerunner - Home » The Mandate Newspaper » The Mandate - Volume 2, Number 2
Your comments are welcome!
Visit The Forerunner's Discussion Forum!
Martin Luther (DVD) 1953 Classic
Niall MacGinnis – Digitally Remastered
The dramatic classic film of Martin Luther’s life was released in theaters worldwide in the 1950s and was nominated for two Oscars. A magnificent depiction of Luther and the forces at work in the surrounding society that resulted in his historic reforming efforts, this film traces Luther’s life from a guilt-burdened monk to his eventual break with the Roman Catholic Church.
In spite of its age, this film continues to be a popular resource to introduce Luther’s life. This historical epic captures the life and times of the greatest figure of the Protestant Reformation with depth and clarity, while giving a glimpse at the private man in the eye of the storm. Luther’s protest against the established order of the Church gave birth to one of the largest religious and cultural movements history and serves as a prime example of how one man’s spiritual convictions can change the course of human events.
Running Time: 105 minutes
$9.95 — ORDER NOW!
Click here for more information
Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism (DVD)
Download the Free on-line Study Guide!
Just what is Calvinism?
Does this teaching make man a deterministic robot and God the author of sin? What about free will? If the church accepts Calvinism, won’t evangelism be stifled, perhaps even extinguished? How can we balance God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility? What are the differences between historic Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism? Why did men like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Edwards and a host of renowned Protestant evangelists embrace the teaching of predestination and election and deny free will theology?
This is the first video documentary that answers these and other related questions. Hosted by Eric Holmberg, this fascinating three-part, four-hour presentation is detailed enough so as to not gloss over the controversy. At the same time, it is broken up into ten “Sunday-school-sized” sections to make the rich content manageable and accessible for the average viewer.
Running Time: 257 minutes
$19.95 — ORDER NOW!
Click here for more information
Massacre of Innocence (DVD)
Exposing The Occult Roots of Abortion
This presentation looks at the spiritual roots of abortion and exposes the myths surrounding child killing. Little known historical facts about abortion and how they relate to modern feminism are presented logically and accurately. Has been effective in converting many to a pro-life position.
Massacre of Innocence goes where no pro-life presentation has gone before in “tearing the lid off abortion” to reveal the spiritual realities we must battle if we will bring an end to this crime. The presentation is absorbing, fast-paced, informative and incredibly devastating to any attempt to justify abortion.
“… an extraordinary statement … a powerfully articulate presentation about what abortion really means, and why a great and moral nation like the United States must not allow the slaughter to continue.”
— Congressman Robert K. Dornan
Running time: 85 minutes
$19.95 — ORDER NOW!
Click here for more information
God's Law and Society (DVD)
Download the Free on-line Study Guide!
God’s Law and Society powerfully presents a comprehensive worldview based upon the ethical system found in the Law of God.
Speakers include: R.J. Rushdoony, George Grant, Howard Phillips, R.C. Sproul Jr., Ken Gentry, Gary DeMar, Jay Grimstead, Steven Schlissel, Andrew Sandlin, Eric Holmberg, and more!
Sixteen Christian leaders and scholars answer some of the most common questions and misconceptions related to this volatile issue:
1. Are we under Law or under Grace?
2. Does the Old Testament Law apply today?
3. Can we legislate morality?
4. What are the biblical foundations of government?
5. Was America founded as a Christian nation?
6. What about the separation of Church and State?
7. Is neutrality a myth?
8. What about non-Christians and the Law of God?
9. Would there be “freedom” in a Christian republic?
10. What would a “Christian America” look like?
Perfect for group instruction as well as personal Bible study.
Ten parts, over four hours of instruction!
Running Time: 240 minutes
Watch over 60 on-line video interviews from God’s Law and Society.
$19.95 — ORDER NOW!
Click here for more information
Abortion Clinic 911 Calls
Exposes the Dangers of Abortion to Women!
These shocking eyewitness accounts expose the dangers of abortion not only to unborn children, but to the health and lives women as well. An antidote to the smokescreens of the liberal media, these six short clips show what really happens in and around abortion clinics.
Although the content is emotionally gut-wrenching, these videos have been used in church seminars and small groups to educate Christians on the abortion issue and to lead people toward a pro-life position.
Watch these pro-life videos on-line.
“These videos helped change my mind from pro-choice to pro-life. Your videos are what did it for me. I will be walking in next year’s March For Life in San Francisco.” — A. Jackson, California
“I was going to have an abortion until I saw your video. Praise Jesus!”
— M. Drew, YouTube Commenter
$9.95 — ORDER NOW!
