The new factor in world Christianity

Friday, 18 May 2012

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Thursday, 06 October 2011 00:00

Global Christianity has been the topic of many a seminary class, magazine article and missions seminar. Discussion has generally focused on how the “center of global Christianity” is shifting to the south. One hundred years ago Europe and North America were considered the centers of Christianity; at the beginning of the 21st century, South America and Africa have become the focus of attention. Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds in regions south of the equator.

What is often overlooked in this discussion is another strong center of Christian activity: the People's Republic of China. It is very difficult to arrive at precise figures from China, but most carefully calculated estimates figure that there are around 80 million Chinese Christians, about five percent of the total population.

Considering the fact that large scale Christian missionary work in China goes back only to the early 1800s, and that Western missionaries have not been able to minister there since 1949, one can only marvel and thank God for this miracle. China could soon be the largest “Christian” country in the world. Increasing openness, coupled with the country’s growing economic strength, could also mean a significant missionary effort as well. There are already some Chinese communities with budding missionary programs and initiatives toward cross-cultural ministry.