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China in Context
Open Doors has helped fuel the revival that exploded in the 1980s after the dark days of the Cultural Revolution. It began with prayer that resulted from Brother Andrew’s first visit in 1965. Then came the famous “Project Pearl,” delivery of one million Bibles in a single night in 1981. Now thousands of Christian leaders are being trained annually in underground Bible schools. The maturity of the church in China has been described as “a mile wide and an inch deep,” which has made training and the provision of related literature a top priority for Open Doors.
Persecution is intense in some areas and minimal in others. We will continue to make accurate communication a top priority in a country where economic development is often spoken of in glowing terms, hiding the religious repression that continues in many areas and on many levels.
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Key Facts About Asia
Population: 4 billion (61% of world population)
Area: 44.5 million km²
Density: 89 people/km²
Languages: about 2240 distinct languages
Main Religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and a variety of eastern religions and philosophies. Many Asians embrace more than one belief system simultaneously.
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China in Focus
More than 5 million pieces of literature were delivered in 2006, a 40% increase over 2005. And more than 20,000 pastors and Christian leaders were involved in various levels of training in 2006, more than double the number trained in 2005. The year 2007 will see an increasing focus on children and youth, including the development of a special Bible for youth and the training of Sunday School teachers.
What Believers Have Said
“This training is very good. The church in China is about 80 percent rural. On the whole, China’s Christians have no difficulty accepting and believing in Jesus, as well as professing Him. But when it comes to how much they really know about their faith, it is very shallow.” (Brother Y, central China)
North Korea
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea. With a population of about three million, it is the largest city in the country. It is the center for political power and main entry point to the country.
No one knows for certain how many people inhabit North Korea, not even its government. Because of continuing secrecy, experts can only make educated guesses. North Korea claims a population of about 22,224,195 people. But the pervasive starvation between 1995 and 1998 and the unknown mortality rate make an exact population count impossible.
“Freedom of religious belief” is promised in the North Korean Constitution, but the government bans organized worship as “counter-revolutionary.”
Sunday Christian church services are performed at three churches (two Protestant and one Catholic) in Pyongyang. A Russian Orthodox Church was also opened this summer. These services are held primarily for the benefit of foreign visitors. An underground Christian movement is active, particularly in the northern most provinces.
Open Doors is currently producing Christian books for North Korean Christians under tough conditions. God has opened the doors and everything is under control with God’s guidance. “The Acts” studying materials have been completed and are currently being distributed.
Open Doors is also providing a training program for leaders among North Korean refugee Christians and North Korean inland Christians.
Another special project for the winter season is to provide some North Koreans with food and also spread the love and word of Jesus Christ.
A Note from a North Korean Christian
Dear Brother Peter,
Hello, how have you been?
Thank you so much for sending us the books and the medicines filled with your true love. How can I ever repay you?
We are able to live our lives today because of your endless concern and it has been our motive force in our work. Brothers here are all well. Me and the other Christians cannot meet often because of the situation here but we meet whenever we can to share God’s Word.
I have so many more things to share with you but please understand me, as I can’t mention some of the things here. Please take care.
Believer
Country Profiles:
China - Number 12 on the World Watch List for 2009 and the fastest-growing church in the world.
North Korea - Number 1 on the World Watch List for the seventh year in a row and the worst persecutor of Christians in the world.
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