Country Profile

China is the third-largest country in the world, and also the most populous. About 40 percent of the population believes in Buddhism and traditional Chinese or ethnic religions, while almost half of the population professes non-belief in any religion. Christianity forms only about 7 percent .

During the Cultural Revolution in the sixties and seventies, religion was expressively banned and all religious activity, including Christianity, went “underground” . Since then, there has been greater religious liberty, but implementation of restrictions has varied between the different regions of China.

Since the 1980s, China has made tremendous gains in improving living standards, reducing poverty and maintaining strong economic growth. While the growth of the economy has led to unprecedented wealth for many, this has in turn led to a culture of materialism and an accumulation of wealth. Even as many are getting richer, there are still those who are living in poverty. In addition, despite growing urbanization, a majority of the population lives in rural areas which are hard to reach.

Needs

Although representing only 7 percent of China’s population, the Church in China is recognized today as one of the fastest growing in the world. However, as China’s social, economic and political climate are reshaped by the challenges of the 21st Century, new problems have arisen for the Church. False doctrines, teachings and practices have made inroads into areas where Christians are not mature enough to differentiate truth from heresy. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of pastors with adequate training and, in many regions, a lack of Christian materials. As a result, many believers hold false beliefs.

In the Chinese house churches, the majority of the leaders and members are women. The issues they face include dilemmas between serving God and caring for their families, discrimination at the workplace, and conflicts at home. Even though they study the Word, they find it hard to apply Biblical principles to the situations they are facing. They need to know where they can seek help for spiritual growth, improve relations with fellow believers, and provide better care for their families.

Due to rapid growth, development, and modernization, China has gone through many changes in the last 20 to 30 years. From these changes, a host of challenges and opportunities have also come about. Modern-day social issues include suicide, HIV/AIDS, and a youth culture that is becoming more open and bringing with it problems such as premarital sex, unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Thanks to modernization, the Internet has become the central meeting place for China’s younger generation by providing them with a place to share their struggles openly. They are looking for answers, be it assistance with their studies, curiosity about other religions, or solutions to difficulties faced in their personal lives. The Internet is an important gateway to reach the millions of users in China – something that was unheard of 15 to 20 years ago.

The Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Centre found that 80 percent of suicide attempts in the city were caused by stress and depression, and a 2007 research by Beijing University found that more than 20 percent of 140,000 high school students interviewed had considered committing suicide.

According to recent UNAIDS figures, there are 700,000 people living with HIV in China including 85,000 with full-blown AIDS, and with AIDS-related deaths numbering 39,000. It is feared that in the near future, China could have more people with HIV than any other country in the world.

As China moves ahead, a part of the population is in danger of being left behind. In China, 9.1 percent of the population aged 15 and above are illiterate . A large portion of this group are the ethnic minorities, of which Joshua Project listed that more than 80 percent are considered UPGs (or unreached people groups). To reach this group, something more than the written word is needed.