Editor’s note: This April we are praying for Shenzhen. Shenzhen is a young city, which really began only in 1979 as China became economically open to the rest of the world. Shenzhen is geographically close to Hong Kong (close enough to pop over for lunch!) and is now one of the biggest and most economically productive cities in China. The city itself is young, but missionaries came to the area in the 1800s. More recently, others from across China arrived in Shenzhen to preach the gospel to the migrants here.
What is unique about Shenzhen’s gospel history?
Wide-Open Door
Pan Raiqi: Missionaries first arrived in Shenzhen around 1846 or 1847.
After China’s reform and opening up [late 20th century], Three-Self churches had a wide-open door. Many young people heard the gospel and came to know the Lord in them. After 2010, there was more and more [government] control over religious policy and ideology. So some left the Three-Self church, either drifting away or scattering among house churches.
God has really blessed this city. Shenzhen has a district called Fuyong. I heard it means “the gospel will be preached forever.”[1] Shenzhen used to be called Bao’an County, and was a place where missionaries bought land. For instance, the mountain behind the Third People’s Hospital was bought by missionaries. This history shows God’s blessing on this place.
God has really blessed this city.
In Shenzhen, the gospel has spread well compared to inland areas. I often tell others that Shenzhen’s development from a small, backward, impoverished border town into a first-tier city cannot be separated from the widespread preaching of the gospel. What is more, Shenzhen is relatively inclusive: all of China’s 56 ethnic groups can be found within the city. In Shenzhen, some areas have stricter government suppression, others are more relaxed. There’s room for improvement, but it’s better than many places.
Because it’s a migrant city, even if people don’t believe, evangelism in Shenzhen hasn’t encountered much resistance.
A Young City
Shu Jing: Shenzhen is a young city, and its people are also young.
In the 1980s, after reform and opening up, house churches gradually began to meet. I became a Christian in 1998, but as far as I know, there were already churches in 1985. Back then, churches were scarce. No matter how far it was, wherever there was a church or a Christian, we would go there to meet them and just shake hands. It’s not like now, with churches everywhere. Then, there were very few churches and Christians. In the 90s, some Christians came to Shenzhen from Hong Kong to preach the gospel and establish churches.
Because Shenzhen used to be a fishing village, it lacks historical depth. The church’s development here mostly happened in the last 20 or 30 years. Shenzhen is not like Guangzhou, which has old, long-established churches. There’s no historical depth, but there’s also no historical baggage.
Never miss a story
There’s no historical depth, but there’s also no historical baggage.
Never miss a story
Sign up to receive our weekly email with our original articles.
Shenzhen has high population mobility, with a lot of turnover. The income gap between white-collar and blue-collar workers is significant, and there is a considerable gap between social classes. People come to Shenzhen from all over China and even the world. The population is diverse, and not exclusionary. But there are still barriers between different groups. They tend to develop their own churches within their own hometown communities.
Lack of Heritage
Elder Wu Yang: Shenzhen has a lack of heritage. In the early days, many house churches were formed by groups of acquaintances who gathered to watch video recordings, like the widely circulated sermons of Stephen Tong. That’s how churches started.
Of course, others followed. There was an influx from Hong Kong, and some came from inland China. Someone from an evangelistic group once said, “When we arrived, we saw Shenzhen as a barren land, a wasteland of faith. So, we pastors with faith from inland China came to plant churches.”
Shenzhen has everything. Whatever denomination you’re looking for, you’ll find it. It’s fertile ground, because it doesn’t discriminate or exclude. Any faith that comes here finds fertile soul. Because of this, not many return to the gospel – some groups lean towards legalism, others towards liberalism. How to return to the gospel is a significant issue.
An Important Place for Church Growth
Pastor Zhang: The gospel was brought to Shenzhen from various places. Many people came here for work and formed communities. Because some people had started gatherings, preachers from their hometowns came and established churches. The gospel here is a convergence from various places. Shenzhen is a very important place for church growth, especially in the last 20 years.
A Mixed Bag
Li En: Through research, we learned that in the 1800s a group called Basel Mission began missionary work in Shenzhen. This mission was composed of missionaries with Swiss and German Lutheran backgrounds, and had a significant impact on the gospel here. Basel Missions built many churches and schools in what was then Bao’an County. At that time, Langkou Village became an essentially Christianized village. Their influence on the spread of the gospel among the Hakka people, including translation, was significant. Unfortunately, most of this history has not been preserved.
Shenzhen lacks cultural depth. This applies to the church, also – there isn’t a strong gospel foundation. The good thing is, there’s not much baggage, either.
In the last two or three decades, Shenzhen saw an influx of people from all over the country. Many Christians, needing to make a livelihood, came here to work. Many churches were started by passionate Christians who came and preached the gospel, beginning with small group Bible studies in homes.
Others mentioned that Shenzhen lacks cultural depth. This applies to the church, also – there isn’t a strong gospel foundation. The good thing is, there’s not much baggage, either. The church is very diverse.
The gospel in this city is a bit of a mixed bag. Many churches weren’t established by organized missionary efforts. It’s more of a grassroots movement of lay Christians with a gospel burden, who were driven here by migration. There are numerous small, scattered churches; it’s very characteristic of Chinese house churches. One rented apartment after another, one worker dormitory after another, one small church after another – each group with maybe three or five or 10 or 20 people. But overall, the connection isn’t very strong.
Thankfully, in recent years, the church’s development has been relatively fast. Because of the city’s youth, more and more churches are paying attention to the gospel needs of Shenzhen.
[1] Fuyong, or 福永, is literally translated as “blessed forever.” However, the character for fu is also used in the Chinese word for “gospel.”
Pan Raiqi, Shu Jing, Pastor Huang, Elder Wu Yang, and Li En are pseudonyms for Chinese house church pastors in the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen.
Pray for Shenzhen.
