"Christian explosion" among Chinese intellectuals

Edited by Tony Lambert, OMF Chinese Ministries Researcher

Christian fellowships are now active in most Chinese universities, resulting in a “Christian explosion” that has “reshaped the religious landscape” in the communist country.

“Today it is an open secret that Christian fellowships—a new kind of ‘house church’ run by Chinese professionals and students, are active in most Chinese universities,” according to Edmund Tang, from the University of Birmingham, editor of the new-look China Study Journal to be launched at the end of March.

“More than thirty academic faculties and research centers are devoted to the study of a once-maligned religion [Christianity]. The question is ‘Why?’”
According to Tang, “It is not enough today to just document what is happening on the ground.”

“It is equally important, if not more so, to know what people are thinking religiously, and how that relates to the moral and spiritual questions that are debated by educated Chinese. This is where the heartbeat of a new China can be found.”

“In south China a university professor felt a great sense of emptiness inside,” a Hong Kong Christian evangelist reports. One day his wife invited a group of Christians to their home. She and her husband enjoyed the occasion. Later, they both believed in Christ and now actively support the work of the local church and contribute to it financially.

In Jiangxi province there is a flourishing work among students, as reported recently:

“Our church has six meeting points. Most of our congregation are university students and elderly people with few young or middle-aged people. It is difficult to share the gospel with the latter group as they have stable jobs and are not keen on religious matters. But the university students are very open to the gospel. We are now developing their faith with materials from the Great Commission Discipleship Training Series. We also study the New Testament in small group Bible studies. Believers have greatly benefited from them.”

There are far too many graduates in China today for the limited jobs available. It may be that the uncertainties of the job market facing eager young graduates, many of whom are bitterly disillusioned as their hopes are dashed, make them more aware of the fragility of life and the need for a spiritual dimension.

These are just some of the many stories of university teachers and students who are turning to Christ in China today.

(CathNews, Australia, 23 March 2007 and Christian Communications Ltd., HK, January/March 2007)

EVANGELISM EXPLOSION?

As Chinese society becomes increasingly open and many people are seeking a spiritual dimension for their lives, active evangelism, sometimes on a large scale, is becoming possible in some places. The ubiquitous use of mobile phones, the spread of the internet, the influx of foreign tourists and businessmen and the return of many top intellectuals from education overseas all combine to further the climate of openness.

Then the loving service of Christians at every level of society elicits a willingness on the part of the average person to hear the gospel. Christians are no longer seen (except in some reactionary Maoist circles) as “agents of imperialism” but as people whose practical love shines out in an increasingly materialistic and selfish society.

Recently we reported of a large open-air meeting held during last Christmas in south China to which 3,000 people came. Now we learn from a Christian ministry based in Hong Kong (Christian Communications Ltd.) of an even larger outreach in east China. Apparently, in Zhejiang province a large-scale Christmas evangelistic outreach attracted more than 10,000 people! Two thousand of them are reported to have expressed a desire to accept Christ afterwards. In central China some small house churches for intellectuals held Christmas parties at hotels to attract non-believers. The Christians shared the gospel with their guests.

Some city churches in east China have organized outreach to the peasants and have seen much spiritual fruit. In a small city in northeast China Christians staged open-air concerts at which they sang hymns and shared the gospel with the crowd of onlookers. Most gave a positive response and asked when they would perform again.

In central China believers from a city church put on clothes emblazoned with the words “Jesus Loves You” and preached openly in the street. They also went into the parks and performed and sang hymns, attracting many onlookers. They gave out tracts and VCDs. Some people accepted the Lord after watching them.

A word of caution. In some areas things are still tightly controlled and such open evangelism is still dangerous. In some areas, house churches meet fairly openly. In some areas they still meet in fear. However, let us pray that the climate of openness will expand across the entire country allowing Christians to share their faith publicly. The response so far from many people is that the Christian message is eagerly listened to and often willingly accepted.

THE CHINESE IN INDIA

The first known Chinese immigrant to India was a sailor who in 1770 arrived in Calcutta from Guangdong. He soon after called other workers from China to help him get set up in India. By 1858 there were about 500 Chinese living in Calcutta. They were mainly men and intermarried with local Indian women.

During the Second World War many Chinese fled Japanese aggression and landed up in India and by 1951 the Chinese population had grown to some 9,000. The Chinese population reached 14,000 by 1962. But in that year relations between the two countries deteriorated and war broke out. The Chinese came under suspicion and many left the country. In 1971 their numbers had decreased to 11,000.

In recent years relations between India and China have much improved, allowing for greater freedom of movement. This has led to further emigration of Chinese from India, including believers from the small Chinese Christian community. Over the last fifteen years it is believed the Christian community has decreased by 50 percent. There are at least two churches run by the Ling Liang Tang evangelical denomination. The Chinese churches and fellowships in India are thus trying to consolidate their position against a background of overall decline. They particularly stress children’s and youth work, holding summer camps and retreats to provide young people with solid Christian foundations wherever in the world they may eventually land up. They need trained evangelists and pastors and a vision to reach out beyond their own small communities to society in India at large.

(We are grateful to CCCOWE for most of the above article.)

BLIND ATHEIST SEES THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
Peng was only young when he lost his sight. Living in rural China, he soon adapted to life without sight. Years later a friend told him about Jesus. “He may not remove your physical blindness,” she said, “but he’s able to banish your spiritual darkness.” For Peng was doubly blind—he was not only unable to see physically, but like many in China he was also a self-confessed atheist.

This was the first step towards Peng becoming a Christian. From the day of his baptism, he immediately hungered for his own Bible—but his family had to read it to him. Finally he discovered that the Bible Society had helped to translate the Chinese Bible into braille. Now Peng is thrilled with his new braille Bible and dreams of becoming a pastor and sharing the Bible’s life-changing message with many others (The Bible Society).

Copyright 2007 by OMF International