Operation World - Pray Today

	China, Taiwan
	Republic of China
	April 8-9

Asia

April 8 next >

Answers to Prayer

1 The political survival and economic growth of Taiwan despite diplomatic isolation in the face of Mainland China's threats and propaganda

2 Christian growth, though slow, resumed in the 1990s after 30 years of stagnation

Challenges for Prayer

1 The elections in 2000 resulted in a Taiwanese majority government that openly spoke of possible independence

2 'Black gold' is the term used for money gained through corruption fostered by many in the old regime

3 Taiwan remains the only major Han Chinese population in the world where the spiritual breakthrough has yet to come

4 The September 1999 earthquake left 2,400 dead, 43,000 homes destroyed and many people distressed and fearful

5 The Presbyterians pioneered ministry since 1865, but only saw significant breakthroughs among the Taiwanese in the 1930s and among the mountain people after 1940

a) Spiritual power to stand against gambling, entrenched ancestor worship, rising materialism and aggressive opposition from non-Christian religions

b) Low commitment

c) Lack of pastors and full-time workers

d) The great disparity in ethnic distribution of Christians

6 The Year 2000 Gospel Movement (Y2GM) was formed in 1987. The vision was to: ensure church planting was initiated in every social group; renew existing churches; see 10,000 churches planted, 2 million new Christians, and 200 cross-cultural missionaries sent out, by 2000

April 8 next >

Geography

Overview: Peoples, Economy, Politics, Religion

click to enlarge

Area 36,000 sq.km. A mountainous island 160km east of mainland China together with the Penghu archipelago and the islands of Matsu and Quemoy close to the mainland.

Population (2000) 22,401,000 +0.77%AGR

Capital Taipei 7,350,000.

Peoples

Han Chinese 97.3%.

Malayo-Polynesian mountain peoples 1.7%.

Other 1%.

Economy

Rapid industrialization and economic growth to become one of the world's most dynamic export-oriented economies of the world.

Politics

Under Japanese rule 1895-1945, then reverting to China.

Religion

Secular state with freedom of religion.

Religions	Population %	Adherents	Ann.Gr.
Chinese	43.21	9,679,472	-0.6%
Buddhist	25.00	5,600,250	+2.7%
non-Religious/other	25.30	5,667,500	+1.2%
Christian	6.06	1,357,501	+1.2%
Muslim	0.35	78,403	+0.2%
Traditional ethnic	0.04	9,000	-3.6%
Baha'i	0.04	8,960	+6.7%

Christians	Denom.	Affil.%	,000	Ann.Gr.
Protestant	81	1.96	438	+1.4%
Independent	33	1.67	375	+2.5%
Anglican	1	0.01	1	-1.5%
Catholic	1	1.36	304	+0.3%
Marginal	2	0.16	36	+2.9%
Unaffiliated		0.90	203	n.a.

Churches in China, Taiwan

Missionaries from China, Taiwan

295 in 21 agencies to 27 countries

Missionaries to China, Taiwan

963 in 146 agencies from 26 countries

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Internet Links

The above information and prayer material is an excerpt from the full text of Operation World for today's date. To view the prayer calendar for the year click here. If you would like the material for other days in the prayer calendar, you can purchase Operation World (click here for more information). Operation World content © 2001 Patrick J. St. G. Johnstone. All Rights Reserved. See Policy for use and reproduction permissions. Published by Paternoster Lifestyle (an imprint of Paternoster Publishing). Web site development by Global Mapping International.