We join in Prayer for China with Operation World this month.
Why Pray for China?
China had more people than any other country (until 2023 when it was surpassed by India), and has massive influence on world economics and politics. China invests billions of dollars in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to develop trade, but also to gain influence. But it also remains politically oppressive and corrupt. It has a poor human rights record, and imposes harsh laws and punishments. The cult of personality surrounding President Xi, the increasingly bellicose tone of China’s foreign policy, and the accelerating oppression of minorities and dissidents should compel us to prayer! Pray for God to do a mighty work in and through the Chinese government.
| Religion & Geography | |
| Category | Statistic |
| Capital: | Beijing |
| Population: | 1.416 billion |
| % Urban: | 66.5 % |
| % Christian: | 7.9 % |
| % Evangelical: | 5.7 % |
| People Groups: | 545 |
| Least Reached People Groups: | 441 |
| % Unevangelized: | 33 % |
Chinese Government and Policies.
China remains officially atheist, and Communist Party members number over 98 million. But the Christian population has eclipsed this number (it is also far outstripped by Chinese Buddhists). Increasing numbers of Party members are believers. Pray that the atheism promoted for so long – and now so assiduously propagated in the education system – will finally be revealed as hollow and deceptive lies. Pray also that all followers of Christ working in state structures might walk faultlessly and be a redemptive force within the government.
Christians in China.
The Church in China.
The survival and growth of the Church in China are awesome events in our generation! The atheist government strictly controls religious groups and banned all religious activity during the Cultural Revolution. Christians then started underground house-church networks designed to survive the persecution. Through radio ministries, Christian workers, and believers devoted to outreach, the Church did more than survive; it grew! The government re-allowed registered churches in 1978 as a way to regain control over Christianity. But the unregistered churches just continued to grow. In fact, there is no growth story like it in all of church history. 2.7 million evangelicals in 1975 grew to over 75 million in just 35 years!
- The Three-Self Patriotic Movement and China Christian Council (TSPM/CCC) together form the only state-recognized Protestant Church. It can legally print and distribute Bibles, and can register and build church buildings. But the government limits its teaching, outreach, and discipleship activity.
- Since its restoration in 1978, it continues to grow. In the past, the atheist regime imposed some doctrines and practices on the TSPM/CCC that hindered its impact on society. Pray for revival and renewal, and future growth.
- The traditional house-church networks formed the core of the Chinese Church for many decades. Preachers travelled far and wide across China. The intense persecution isolated them from the global Church, and forced them to adopt indigenous ways. They focus strongly on prayer, revival, simple living, and on Christ! Most house-church Christians love their country, but their first loyalty is to God. They do not want to register with the government. Their illegal status leads to persecution.
- The mass migration to the cities will force these networks and churches to adapt. Some rural congregations get left without a leader, and some migrants struggle without a church group in the city. Pray that the strong commitment to God’s Word, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the boldness to spread the gospel will all continue to shape this growing, changing movement.
- Other smaller, less-organized house-church networks still make up a significant part of the Chinese Church. Many formed through radio broadcasts and related ministries, often among minority groups. More recently, new networks form within the workplace, such as within factories or offices owned or managed by Christians.
Persecution in China.
Persecution remains a present reality. This is a measure of the government’s fears of such a large movement they do not control and of the majority of the Church operating outside the government-sanctioned church bodies. Since 1996, persecution has increased against house churches unwilling to register with the TSPM/CCC. Arrests, heavy fines, forced closures and destruction of church buildings are increasing in some key areas; the state says this is because house churches are illegal and a potential political threat, not because they are Christian. But this does nothing to lessen the suffering endured by its victims.
Missions in China.
Missions vision is strong, and the Chinese Church sends out workers to both unreached minorities within China and unevangelized nations beyond. Some house-church networks have supported missions outreach to other provinces and to ethnic minorities for a long time. The Back to Jerusalem vision aims to send up to 100,000 missionaries from China throughout the unevangelized world. Some think China may become the greatest sending nation of the 21st century! Pray for good preparation to equip Christians and churches for this cross-cultural task.
Pray for sensitivity and humility, especially for the dominant Han Chinese
Islam is an officially recognized religion in China, but conflict with some ethnic minority groups makes it a sensitive matter. Almost all Muslims come from the indigenous Uyghur, Kazak, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Tatar, Salar, Dongxiang, and Hui groups. Recently, Muslim minorities have suffered terrible treatment, including but by no means limited to the internment of over 1 million Uyghurs in “re-education camps”. Few Christians in China live and work among Muslim peoples, and work among them becomes increasingly difficult due to government policies.
Ask God to call more workers to serve these often isolated and sometimes oppressed minorities.
For More Information for Prayer for China: See Operation World.
Thank You for Praying for China!
Sources: Operation World.