Pray for China

The ingenuity and grandeur of the Great Wall, the ancient writings of Confucius, and the colorful dragons of the Lunar New Year all point to China’s rich history and massive global influence. From the highest mountains in the west to the tropical rainforests of the south, China’s natural beauty is astounding. Holding the world’s second-largest population, this nation is home to 1.4 billion people. Some live in enormous, modern industrial cities, while others make their living on the land in small rural communities.  Traditional Chinese culture emphasizes deep respect for family, education, harmony, and hard work. Even as rapid modernization transforms daily life, family loyalty and respect for elders remain central values across this diverse land. As a global leader in manufacturing and exports, China boasts the world’s second-largest economy.

China faces significant political and social struggles. It is a one-party authoritarian state governed strictly by the Chinese Communist Party. The government exercises extensive control over politics, media, education, and religion, highly restricting free speech and civil liberties through widespread censorship and high-tech surveillance. This economic growth has created massive wealth for some, but it has also widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Millions of people have rushed to the cities over the past few decades, contributing to severe air and water pollution. China also faces unique social crises. It has one of the world’s fastest-aging populations, a shrinking workforce, and high youth unemployment, leaving many young people feeling anxious about their future.

Yet this nation has also witnessed one of history’s most remarkable and miraculous movements to Christ! With only 2.7 million evangelicals in 1975, China is now home to an estimated 75 million. The scope of this incredible growth is unprecedented. The gruesome persecution that followed the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) only gave the Church greater momentum. Christians represent every part of society through the state-controlled Protestant church, rural house church networks, and vibrant urban professional churches. But this massive and rapid growth has created an enormous need for greater access to Bibles and sound biblical teaching, particularly as believers navigate pressing moral and ethical questions. Though the Church in China is massive, it still represents only 6–7 percent of the population and is not evenly distributed across this vast land. Millions of people remain unreached by the Gospel and are held captive to the mixed philosophies and teachings of Daoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and atheism. As materialism, corruption, and moral decline continue to ravage China, its people desperately need Christ. Now is the time. May the Spirit of God unleash His power in even greater ways, and may the Gospel reach each of the 1.4 billion people spread across this vast land.