China

Scripture and Literacy

Overview

This project provides literacy classes for rural Chinese Christians, allowing greater accessibility to the Bible. The majority of the Christians in China live in rural areas - and a high percentage of them are non-literate or semi-literate. The goal of this project is to help Christians become grounded in the word of God and able to resist false teaching.

The Need

According to the Census in 2020, there are over 37.75 million non-literate people above 15-years-old in China. Of this number, about 75% are women, due to cultural and traditional practices that deprioritise female education.

Most Chinese Christians are among this number and are too poor to receive any form of education. The need for literacy classes is significant. Additionally, improved literacy helps to address the church’s concern over the widespread infiltration of cults found mainly in rural areas. Biblical literacy will help Christians discern between true and false teachings and prevent believers from being swayed by heresies.

37.8m non-literate adults in China.

97.4% literacy rate (as of 2020 census).

75% of non-literate adults are women.

Goals

In 2023, the hope is to reach 18,000 non-literate people across the Jiangsu, Shandong, Anhui, Chongqing, Yunnan and Gansu provinces.

The project will take place in about five provinces, through 340 Literacy classes, with about 50 participants per class. This will mainly include elderly people and women. The project aims to carry out most literacy classes in Chinese Han. In Yunnan, in addition to Han speakers, they will provide literacy classes in another eight minority languages. This encompasses: West Lisu, East Lisu, Baiyi, Large Flowery Miao, Wa, Gan Yi and Black Yi, and Zaiwa.

They will also encourage 900 minority ethnic people who have recently had a Bible translation completed in their language –including West Lisu, East Lisu, Bai Yi and Wa.