Over the past 25 years, Bible Societies worldwide have been assisting with the provision of Bible paper so that Bibles can be printed in China for Chinese Christians.  The sponsorship of the paper helps to keep Bibles affordable for the millions of Christians in China.

Some 50 million Bibles have already been printed and distributed among Christians in China.

This year the Church in China plans to distribute 2,6 million affordable Bibles.  The cost of the paper to be able to print these Bibles amounts to about R20,3 million.

By August this year Bible Societies had already contributed R9,1 million which will cover the paper costs of 1,2 million Bibles.  However, a further 1,4 million Bibles must still be printed for which a further R11,2 million is needed urgently before the end of the year.

The Chinese Christian Council also currently helps to supply Bible paper but their funds are limited.

Just over 40 years ago the Bible was a banned book in China.  According to official statistics there are about 29 millions Christians in this country today.  Unofficially, there are an estimated 100 million Christians in China.

Although Bible prices in China are heavily subsidised to ensure the Christians can afford the Bible, it remains an expensive item for most Christians.  Seventy percent of all Christians in China live in rural areas where most people earn as little as R14 per day.  About 20 kg of mielies or 40 eggs must be sold to buy one Bible.

“Christians in China are hungry for the Word and everyone wants their own Bible,” said Rev Gerrit Kritzinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Bible Society of South Africa.  “The Church in China shows phenomenal growth and it is vitally important that their Bible needs are met.  There are also about 1,2 billion Chinese people who have not even heard the Gospel – that is one third of the world’s non-Christians.  We cannot allow a shortage of Bibles to develop because of a lack of funding for Bible paper.”

Anyone who would like to help with funds for Bible paper for China can contact the Bible Society of South Africa at 021 910 8705 or visit the website www.biblesociety.co.za for more information.

~ 5 October 2010 ~