1918 Bible Essay

China represents 22% of the world's population but has 33% of the world's un-reached peoples. The Christian church is surging ahead there, with millions of converts over the last decade. God is doing a mighty work in China. Henan province in central China is one of the nation's most populated provinces with a population of 96 million people. There are now nearly two and a half million Christians who live in Henan. Yet their needs are great. Especially, there’s a great and urgent need for literacy work, to help many illiterate believers learn to read the Bible and come to a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. They also need to be protected from the teaching of numbers of cult groups. So Bible Society has been reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Henan province. We have launched a major literacy programme in 18 mostly rural cities and counties in the province. For three months and over 3 hours per week, course participants have studied the Gospel of Matthew.They learned to read, using Scripture, memorised Bible passages and read out loud.

The Bible remains the greatest 'evangelist' in China. It's also the best selling book across this vast nation. Now, we are earnestly seeking God's blessing and our supporters’ prayers and financial support for a second major literacy programme in Anhui Province. There too the needs are very great. Anhui has only 63 ordained pastors, who are supplemented by 700 preachers and 13,000 volunteers. It has the second highest population of Christians in China, of 1.5 million people. Pilot programmes have already made a great impact on their lives and are setting a solid foundation for the future of China's Christian faithful.

Last year in May we conducted a free Bible distribution programme to Christians in remote rural areas in Anhui Province.

After an earnest request from the China Christian Council, we conducted another distribution of Bibles in November last year.

Bibles were freely given to people who could read with the charge to read them to those people who could not read. Now of course, many want to learn to read for themselves!

God's work is moving ahead powerfully in China.

Will you support this great work at this very strategic time in China, prayerfully and financially? There are great needs, demanding a significant commitment of resources. Please send us your tax deductible donation with this coupon, the one on the mailing sheet for Bibles@work, phone our donor line 1300 552 537, donate using your credit card, or online.