Church leaders spoke to VIRTUEONLINE on the basis of anonymity, saying that the urban church (as distinct from the rural house church) or "Third Church," as it is now being called, is a separate entity made up of believers who have come to know Jesus Christ through a variety of ways: some have heard the gospel while they were overseas; others have learned of the Good News from foreigners in China; and still others initially attended the government-approved Three Self Church Movement (TSPM) churches and then, for various reasons, came out to join the unregistered urban assemblies.
Georgina Sam documented this in her recent book "Christian China and the Light of the World."

Members of the urban house church are more likely to come from the middle class, to be wealthier, more highly educated and tech savvy in comparison with their rural brothers and sisters.

The core of the urban church leadership is derived primarily from the post-Cultural revolution generation of converts. It is viewed by an older generation who suffered much for their faith, with leaders like Brother Yun who underwent enormous suffering for his faith, was imprisoned numerous times, but who saw miraculous healings occur along with "signs and wonders" and the power of the Holy Spirit moving some 58 million receiving Christ mostly in rural China.

However, a new generation of Christians is growing up in China in a time of increasing prosperity and wealth, with ever greater opportunities, choices and, some would say, freedom.

Without Tiananmen Square, there would not have been an urban house church movement, VOL was told.

"There are thousands of young Chinese coming back from the West, many of them Christians disoriented by living and being educated in the West and now feel alienated from their own families. They don't belong. This is where the new Third Church movement is thriving, church leaders told VOL.

"Chinese returning from the West need help outside their comfort zone. They no longer fit easily into modern China. They have seen and experienced Christianity in the West with many finding Christ. Western Christians living in the big cities of China can help them readjust by offering them friendship and more," leaders told VOL.

One western-based person told VOL that help from the international community at local universities is hugely strategic for the growth of the church in China. "We are cultural strangers helping cultural strangers and by assisting them with thanksgiving meals and friendship evangelism the church becomes part of their lives. These Chinese Christians returning from the West are outside their comfort zone and we can be there for them."

Many Chinese became Christians because of how they were treated in the West by total strangers. This is culturally unheard of in China. "You only help your immediate family or people who are part of your work community, outside of that you are a stranger and you have no reason to be kind to the stranger. Christians cross cultural boundaries and reach out to those now alienated from their families because of their new found faith in Christ."

The following Q and A took place with a Christian leader. We cannot reveal the name of this person, their nationality or status. This interview took place in the corner of a hotel bar in an unnamed city in China.

VOL: How strong are the Christian Churches in China?

LEADER: There are five official churches approved by the TSPM. I have heard that the largest in Shanghai is 2,000 with 700 each at two services.

VOL: Are there are any born again Christians in the Three Self Churches?

LEADER: Yes, and there are even pastors who are genuine. People in the TSPM churches hear something of God and then later they learn about house churches. The TSPM person is often lead to a house church. The lines are blurred between the TSPM and house churches in terms of spirituality. The reality is more complicated and you can't say one is just simply bad.

VOL: How many religions and Christian denominations are there in China?

LEADER: There are five official religions in China including Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, and Islam. Among Christians, they're mostly evangelical Protestants, some Roman Catholics and Three Self Church movement. There are 21 million Muslims living in China.

VOL: How many Christians do you estimate are in China?

LEADER: Up to 10 percent of the population of 1.3 billion Chinese or 130 million. There will be more Christians in China in the next twenty years practicing their faith than all of the West put together. Some believe that there are more practicing Christians in China now than in all of Europe.

VOL: How is evangelism conducted in a large Chinese city?

LEADER: It is about living your life. It is very powerful when Christians don't beat their wives, don't take bribes, are not corrupt, and are not alcoholics. They also show love for people and love to the stranger. In China you only love people in your immediate network. Christians are different … you love your neighbor as yourself.

Any Chinese person who is part of your family, you are going to be hospitable. If you are a stranger, you are nothing to them. There is no common decency. To be Guangxi means living in a literally closed system.

For example, it was reported in the newspapers that a 2-year old was hit by car and everybody watched her die. Only a cleaning lady came to her aid. What this says, that if you have no connection, you are nothing. The concept of the Good Samaritan is unknown. By helping someone, you can be blamed and have to pay their medical bills. There is a pervasive fear of helping the stranger. Adoption is a taboo. There are Christians now helping prostitutes. Chinese leaders are trying to address the issue of ‘soft' power. Everyone in China realizes that there is something of a crisis of identity in the country.

VOL: What draws people to becoming Christians?

LEADER: On May 12, 2008 hundreds of people died. Christians organized to help. The government runs the Red Cross. Christians were seen on the ground helping the situation. David Wang's book, "Christian China and the Light of the World" is a wonderful book on the subject. A lot of churches raised money and gave it to the government. It was a powerful witness. Lines are becoming increasingly blurred. Christians want to work with the state church by being good citizens.

VOL: What would be a good opening….how can you talk about Christ to a person?

LEADER: Chinese living abroad and then returning don't feel fully comfortable. They are not westerners. They are like sea turtles who return. A substantial portion are a third culture, a sub culture, they are open to the gospel. Many hit rock bottom and then they come to us. There is an openness to us. There are seeker courses we put on and when they go back to, say Germany, they say, "I never thought I would come to China and become a Christian." All conversions are Chinese inspired.

VOL: Are there acts of defiance in China?

LEADER: There are no acts of defiance by individual Christians. We behave in a way that does not draw attention to us. The house churches were rural churches. Its seeds are now in the cities where the Third Church Movement is now taking hold.

VOL: There has been an upsurge in religion in China especially among the ethnic Han who make up more than 90% of the population. Why do you think that is the case?

LEADER: The coastal city of Wenzhou is called China's Jerusalem. It is a haven for Christians even though it is far from Beijing. Churches spring up and are then demolished. The Communist Party sees it as an affront to the party's atheism even though it is famously free-wheeling capitalism. How do you explain that?

VOL: What is the state of justice in China?

LEADER: 75% of all human rights lawyers are Christian. Most of the protest movement in Hong Kong were Christians, so the Communists see Christianity as offering a theology of protest to their way of thinking.

VOL: How do you view the average Chinese person today?

LEADER: There is a brokenness here and people are hungry for something different. People are coming from the country into the city and they are starving for a compelling reason to believe.

Over the past few decades people were getting rich. Now many realize there is an emptiness in money. Money is like coal and does not deal with brokenness of the human spirit. They are not dealing with the deeper cultural tradition.

Confucianism is on the rise as a way of living. The government talks about the five relationships in Confucianism. That is the government response to the cultural crisis and thus the return to Confucianism. For 100 years, the government tried to abolish it; now they are embracing it.

There is still the myth that Christianity is western because of the 1840s opium war and the later Boxer Rebellion of 1900. In 1949 the last western Christians left and left behind unreconciled issues. Communists say they are saving China from Western intrusion. The Chinese President is proving to be hesitant towards the Church's growth in China. We are trying to persuade by showing changed lives. The president is trying to come up with an alternative script for China which is Confucianism. Buddhism is also on the rise, but Christianity is eclipsing them all.

Materialism has hit a wall in China and people are looking for something more.

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