Overview
Slightly smaller than the United States, China has the world’s largest population of 1.3 billion.
Previously a world leader, China declined after its Cultural Revolution crippled the economy and took millions of lives.
Since 1978, however, China has shifted toward market economics and has risen as the world’s second largest economy. China has experienced the fastest growing church movement in history—from 2.7 million evangelicals in 1975 to over 75 million in 2010. Today, 6.24 percent of China’s population is evangelical.
As a side effect of rapid growth and past persecution, Christian leaders are scarce—in 2010, some groups reported only one trained leader for every 7,000 believers or even every 40,000 in some areas. A shortage of printed Bibles and literature has also afflicted the church, with some congregations sharing a single Bible. As a result, the Chinese church has been susceptible to false teaching.
Chinese culture suffers from growing materialism, rampant corruption, and the world’s highest number of suicides. Additionally, China’s birth restrictions have prompted roughly 23 million abortions per year, according to the U.S. State Department.
How You Can Make a Difference
Ways To Give
Evangelism & Discipleship
One of the many Bible schools assisted by Christian Aid Mission in China offers one- and two-year programs, with training primarily focused on evangelism and the cost of discipleship. Seven days a week, faculty lead morning prayers at 5 a.m. and evening prayers at 9p.m. Every Saturday, students divide into groups to evangelize their community. Due to the school’s excellent standing, home churches often invite students and faculty to preach and lead worship. They travel in pairs on bicycles to over 40 house churches in the school’s vicinity. Over 120 students graduate from this Bible school each year. Students become teachers at the school, return to serve in their home churches, or plant new churches in various regions throughout China. GIVE NOW to help evangelistic and discipleship ministries like this one in China.
Community Engagement
A Bible-based drug rehabilitation center founded in 2007 in Yunnan Province addresses the growing problem of drug abuse in the southern provinces, where heroin and other illicit drugs come across the border from Myanmar. The school’s 18-month program helps addicts recover through the living Word of God. Patients also learn vocational skills to help them reenter society. GIVE NOW to help community engagement ministries like this one in China.
Compassion
Exclusive Stories from the Mission Field
Share The Good News Of Salvation in Kenya
Many women attended a two-day conference organized by a native ministry, and “there was a great movement of the power of God,” according to the ministry leader. During their time together, some experienced healing while others experienced deliverance and reconciliation. “Many marriages had collapsed,” the ministry leader reported. “But the Lord spoke the word of peace and now there is peace to many.”
Unite With The Persecuted Church in China
An older woman in a village hostile to the gospel chose to follow Jesus after the persistent love and compassion she was shown by native missionaries. But her neighbors prohibited her from attending church, and her children told the missionaries they were unwelcome. When the woman suffered a bad fall and no one knew if she would live, the missionaries prayed, and her injuries soon healed.
Care For The Sick And Ailing in China
Missionaries with a native ministry serve patients and their families at a local hospital, sharing the gospel and providing food and free lodging to those who have spent much of their savings on medical expenses. Even after the patients leave the hospital, ministry workers maintain a relationship with them, visiting them in their homes or speaking with them on the phone.
Build Relationships With The Lost in China
A native missionary shared the gospel with a woman, and the woman’s heart was opened to accept Jesus as Savior. After they prayed together, the woman said that her eyes hurt and asked the missionary to pray for healing. Three days later, the woman told the missionary that her eyes were healed, and the missionary was overjoyed to see God’s hand at work.
Support Workers’ Outreach Efforts in China
Christian students invited their roommates and friends to a recent ministry-organized camping trip, and some who agreed to come only attended because of their interest in the event, not because they wanted to learn about Christ. But their fellowship with believers left them wanting to know more about the gospel, and ministry workers have realized the importance of discipleship following such events.
Engage With Non-Believers Through Underground Evangelism in China
In one native ministry’s small group, the pastor speaks in a near-whisper and the people must sing quietly to avoid detection by the authorities. But this fellowship time is invaluable for believers to deepen their relationship with God and each other. It also provides an opportunity to engage with non-believers who want to build friendships with others.