Beijing, China, Aug 1, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A report in The Age says that Chinese Christians currently outnumber members of the Communist Party. The Gospel message is being spread everywhere, in the countryside and in the cities, and even in uncommon places, like beauty salons.
Among the state-approved religions are Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam.
Buddhism and Taoism claim most worshippers but the state-sanctioned churches count up to 35 million members. Then, there are the underground churches, which are believed to have up to 100 million members.
According to the report, many people, especially in the countryside, have converted to Christianity after someone they know or love was healed from a sickness as a result of prayer.
In rural villages or urban churches alike, the people gather any day of the week to proclaim and practice their faith. Back at the beauty salon, owner Xun Jinzhen told The Age he introduced 40 of his patrons to the church last year alone.