GOVERNMENT: Communist one-party state
POPULATION: Approximately 1.4 billion
RELIGION: Atheist state (major religions
include Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, and Chinese folk religion)LANGUAGE: Mandarin Chinese (with over 500 dialects across different regions)
CURRENCY: Yuan (CNY)
CLIMATE: Varies from subarctic in the north, temperate in the east, desert in the west, to subtropical in the south
CHINA
Pray with us
Pray for transformation within the government. Ask God to reveal His truth amidst the country’s promotion of atheism. Pray that God would raise up Christian believers within government institutions to walk with integrity and be a godly influence.
Pray for social and health ministries to flourish. Ask God for Chinese Christians, especially in caring and legal professions, to have opportunities to minister to vulnerable groups: those suffering from diseases, disability, addiction, mental illness, and poverty. That their acts of compassion reflect the love of Jesus.
Pray for unreached people groups. Ask God to increase the boldness of believers to reach the 400+ unreached ethnic groups—especially Muslims and minorities. Pray that God raises up workers to live among them and equip local believers for discipleship.
THE REALITY
China’s cultural traditions are shaped by Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, and they continue to influence every aspect of society. While some of these traditions emphasize good things like harmony, honor, family, and respect for authority, they also distract people from opening their hearts to a loving Savior. As an officially atheist state, China permits limited religious expression. Yet more than 400 ethnic groups remain unreached with the Gospel, Christians often experience surveillance and persecution, and many young people struggle with isolation and a lack of purpose.
The story of the Church in China is one of both perseverance and miraculous growth. During the Cultural Revolution, all religious activity was banned, forcing believers to form underground house-churches in the face of persecution. The Church didn’t just survive, it thrived and expanded. Through radio broadcasts, dedicated Christian workers, and courageous believers, the Gospel continued to spread. When the government re-legalized registered churches in 1978 in an attempt to regain control, the underground, unregistered churches continued to grow even faster. A move of God continues today, but the need is still great. Over 90% of the population remains lost and in need of God’s saving grace.
Major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou have epic skateboarding, wakeboarding and BMX scenes, with some of the world’s largest skateparks regularly filled with locals and tourists alike. With the most ski resorts in the world, 719 in total, snowboarding and skiing are naturally gathering places for people with common passions and a new generation of action sports enthusiasts. In a culture that values family and harmony, skateparks, ski resorts, and trails offer open doors of opportunity to live out the Gospel and allow God to soften hearts through loving and truthful friendships.
