(2) Short Notes on China and Chinese Christians
SHORT NOTES ON CHINA AND CHINESE CHRISTIANS (# 2)
January-March 2006
January-March 2006
January
CHINESE CITIES - CHONGQING
Chongqing (pronounced chahn-CHING) has been dubbed “The World’s Largest City” in both population and size, with a population of 33 million people and city limits comparable to the size of South Carolina.
Located in western China on the Yangtze River, Chongqing is a dynamic, modernized major inland port and business hub for southwest China. In recent events, the construction of the Three Gorges Dam (the world’s most massive dam project) is causing 1.3 million people to be displaced from their homes.
Chongqing (pronounced chahn-CHING) has been dubbed “The World’s Largest City” in both population and size, with a population of 33 million people and city limits comparable to the size of South Carolina.
Located in western China on the Yangtze River, Chongqing is a dynamic, modernized major inland port and business hub for southwest China. In recent events, the construction of the Three Gorges Dam (the world’s most massive dam project) is causing 1.3 million people to be displaced from their homes.
Chongqing’s population includes about 1.7 million people from the Miao and Tujia minority groups. Although the city is made up of atheists, Buddhists and Christians, materialism seems to be the practical religion here.
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CHINA – LAWYER IN NEED OF PRAYER PROTECTION
Gao Zhisheng, a prominent lawyer who had his legal license suspended by Chinese authorities for representing religious rights, faced an attempt on his life January 17th. China Aid Association reported Gao was traveling in Beijing when a vehicle with an obscured license plate suddenly stopped in front of him. He narrowly missed hitting the vehicle, stopped and got out to investigate.
The driver of the other car then attempted to run down Gao, but he was able to dodge out of the path of the vehicle. As the car sped away, the newspaper covering the license plate blew away and the plate number was reported. It is believed the driver was a security agent of the Chinese government. Throughout the incident, a military vehicle was observing nearby.
Pray Gao will continue to experience God’s protection even though his work angers those in authority. Pray Gao and his friends within the house churches will continue to share Christ with boldness and even share their faith with their persecutors. Pray with confidence for Chinese authorities, knowing God’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save.
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Gao Zhisheng, a prominent lawyer who had his legal license suspended by Chinese authorities for representing religious rights, faced an attempt on his life January 17th. China Aid Association reported Gao was traveling in Beijing when a vehicle with an obscured license plate suddenly stopped in front of him. He narrowly missed hitting the vehicle, stopped and got out to investigate.
The driver of the other car then attempted to run down Gao, but he was able to dodge out of the path of the vehicle. As the car sped away, the newspaper covering the license plate blew away and the plate number was reported. It is believed the driver was a security agent of the Chinese government. Throughout the incident, a military vehicle was observing nearby.
Pray Gao will continue to experience God’s protection even though his work angers those in authority. Pray Gao and his friends within the house churches will continue to share Christ with boldness and even share their faith with their persecutors. Pray with confidence for Chinese authorities, knowing God’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save.
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February
CHINESE CITIES - DATONG
Datong (pronounced DA-tahng), Shaanxi Province, is one of the most prominent Buddhist areas in China today, thanks to the rulers of the Northern Wei Dynasty who controlled the entire country from 386 to 534 AD. Because of Datong’s close proximity to the Great Wall, the rulers chose to locate there. They also proclaimed Buddhism as the state religion and built many important Buddhist sites in the area. People still come from all over China to visit and worship at these statues and monasteries.
Despite its glorious and important position in Chinese history, the Datong of today is a struggling city. Poor, polluted from years of coal production, and devastated by earthquakes, Datong’s only drawing card is the historical and cultural relics nearby. The city has a significantly lower literacy rate than most others in China, and as a result of the strict “one-child policy” and many families’ desire for a son, has over 85,000 more men than women. Only around 0.3 percent of Datong’s population are Christians.
Datong (pronounced DA-tahng), Shaanxi Province, is one of the most prominent Buddhist areas in China today, thanks to the rulers of the Northern Wei Dynasty who controlled the entire country from 386 to 534 AD. Because of Datong’s close proximity to the Great Wall, the rulers chose to locate there. They also proclaimed Buddhism as the state religion and built many important Buddhist sites in the area. People still come from all over China to visit and worship at these statues and monasteries.
Despite its glorious and important position in Chinese history, the Datong of today is a struggling city. Poor, polluted from years of coal production, and devastated by earthquakes, Datong’s only drawing card is the historical and cultural relics nearby. The city has a significantly lower literacy rate than most others in China, and as a result of the strict “one-child policy” and many families’ desire for a son, has over 85,000 more men than women. Only around 0.3 percent of Datong’s population are Christians.
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CHINESE CITIES - XINING
The name for Xining City (pronounced SHE-ning), the capital of China’s western Qinghai Province, is derived from “Xipingting,” meaning “hope of stability along western borders.” Because of its location and popularity as a stopping-off point along the Silk Road, Xining was a strategically important city during ancient times.
Today it is a popular place for tourists to travel into Tibet. In a spiritual sense, Xining is an ideal gateway for reaching nearby minority groups with the gospel of Christ.
Xining, population nearly 928,000, is home to thousands of Hui Muslims and Tibetans, as well as to a significant number of people from the Manchu, Tu and Mongol ethnic minorities. Tibetan Buddhism is the dominant religion in the areas surrounding Xining.
Missionary work in Qinghai Province during the late 1800s resulted in a new church start in the city. Now there are about 8,000 known Christians in Xining, but this still represents less than 1 percent of the total population.
The name for Xining City (pronounced SHE-ning), the capital of China’s western Qinghai Province, is derived from “Xipingting,” meaning “hope of stability along western borders.” Because of its location and popularity as a stopping-off point along the Silk Road, Xining was a strategically important city during ancient times.
Today it is a popular place for tourists to travel into Tibet. In a spiritual sense, Xining is an ideal gateway for reaching nearby minority groups with the gospel of Christ.
Xining, population nearly 928,000, is home to thousands of Hui Muslims and Tibetans, as well as to a significant number of people from the Manchu, Tu and Mongol ethnic minorities. Tibetan Buddhism is the dominant religion in the areas surrounding Xining.
Missionary work in Qinghai Province during the late 1800s resulted in a new church start in the city. Now there are about 8,000 known Christians in Xining, but this still represents less than 1 percent of the total population.
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CHINESE SECURITY KEEPS CLOSE EYE ON CHRISTIAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
China Aid Association (CAA) learned that the freedom of a prominent Christian rights activist continues to be restricted by Chinese security agents even after his release from a two-year prison term. Xu Yonghai, a former psychiatric doctor at Beijing Pingan Hospital, has been under surveillance since his release from a prison in Hangzhou in China’s Zhejiang province on Sunday, Jan. 29.
Xu told the CAA that before his release, Chinese security agents installed three video cameras in front of his apartment in order to monitor his activities. Officials also failed to return his identification cards. Xu’s wife, Li Shanna, refused to sign a form demanding she report her husband’s activities to the Chinese authorities.
Xu was arrested in Beijing along with two others in November 2003 because of their role in documenting the destruction of churches and the persecution of Chinese Christians. Both Xu and his wife lost their hospital jobs after his arrest.
China Aid Association (CAA) learned that the freedom of a prominent Christian rights activist continues to be restricted by Chinese security agents even after his release from a two-year prison term. Xu Yonghai, a former psychiatric doctor at Beijing Pingan Hospital, has been under surveillance since his release from a prison in Hangzhou in China’s Zhejiang province on Sunday, Jan. 29.
Xu told the CAA that before his release, Chinese security agents installed three video cameras in front of his apartment in order to monitor his activities. Officials also failed to return his identification cards. Xu’s wife, Li Shanna, refused to sign a form demanding she report her husband’s activities to the Chinese authorities.
Xu was arrested in Beijing along with two others in November 2003 because of their role in documenting the destruction of churches and the persecution of Chinese Christians. Both Xu and his wife lost their hospital jobs after his arrest.
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March
CHINA: AUTHORITIES RAID CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Police in China have reportedly arrested 36 people, including pastors and students, in a raid on a school that is operated by an underground church.
A US-based religious rights group says more than 50 police officers, some in anti-riot gear, swooped down on the school in Anhui province early Wednesday morning as classes were about to begin.
The Texas-based China Aid Association has released a statement saying the officers, who were armed with electric batons, took almost everyone in the Little Shanghai Tailoring School into custody. The Association says the school teaches Bible studies and sewing.
The arrests are believed to be part of a wider crackdown against a network of churches that refuse to register with the government.
China allows worship only in state-approved churches.
The AFP newsagency says local police have either denied knowledge of the incident or refused to comment.
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Police in China have reportedly arrested 36 people, including pastors and students, in a raid on a school that is operated by an underground church.
A US-based religious rights group says more than 50 police officers, some in anti-riot gear, swooped down on the school in Anhui province early Wednesday morning as classes were about to begin.
The Texas-based China Aid Association has released a statement saying the officers, who were armed with electric batons, took almost everyone in the Little Shanghai Tailoring School into custody. The Association says the school teaches Bible studies and sewing.
The arrests are believed to be part of a wider crackdown against a network of churches that refuse to register with the government.
China allows worship only in state-approved churches.
The AFP newsagency says local police have either denied knowledge of the incident or refused to comment.
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Intercessors engage in this prayer operation in more than 5000 prayer groups and churches in 120 nations. The networking factor increases and multiplies the number to a degree beyond estimation.
Encourage your friends to partake in intercession and tell them about the possibility of linking up to Intercessors Network.
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Encourage your friends to partake in intercession and tell them about the possibility of linking up to Intercessors Network.
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Give the king knowledge of Your way of judging, O God
and the spirit of your righteousness to the king’s son to control his actions.
Psalms 72:1 Amplified version.
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PRIORITY NUMBER ONE:
PRAY FOR MEN IN AUTHORITY, 1 TIM 2:1-4
Lars Widerberg
Intercessors Network
Storskiftesgatan 87
S-58334 Linkoping, Sweden
Contact Intercessors Network
Phone + Fax: +46 13 213630
and the spirit of your righteousness to the king’s son to control his actions.
Psalms 72:1 Amplified version.
*******************************
PRIORITY NUMBER ONE:
PRAY FOR MEN IN AUTHORITY, 1 TIM 2:1-4
Lars Widerberg
Intercessors Network
Storskiftesgatan 87
S-58334 Linkoping, Sweden
Contact Intercessors Network
Phone + Fax: +46 13 213630
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R E F L E C T I O N
The swedish and global christianity has above a lot of prayer requests for China and chinese christians.
Foot note
Read about Open Doors' seven-year China Prayer Campaign
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