Bible Miracle in China

35 years ago, printing a Bible in China was illegal. But in 2012, Amity Printing Company (APC) in Nanjing celebrated their 100 millionth Bible. China officially became the world’s largest Bible printer.

Many lives have been impacted through APC’s publishing of God’s Word in people’s heart language.

One example is Wang Hai, 29, from the Miao ethnic group. He now distributes Bibles to others in Yunnan.

“My body may ache after riding long distances but my heart is happy,” says Wang who is glad to be God’s tool of service.

This Bible miracle started in 1988 as a joint venture between Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies (UBS), with a mission and priority to serve the Church in China. On 6 November 2012, the Church in China celebrated the printing and distribution of 60 million Bibles within mainland China since the establishment of APC. Then on 8 November 2012, APC celebrated the milestone of 100 million Bibles printed since they started 24 years ago, of which 40 million are for export and 60 million for China. APC’s service has expanded to serve the global Christian community in over 70 nations.

The 60 million Bibles printed and distributed in mainland China testifies to a strong established partnership between UBS and China Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM), encouraging God’s Word to be preached and applied throughout the nation, and the world at large.

“This feat would not have been possible if not for God’s bountiful blessings on China and the support of UBS,” Rev Gao Feng, President of the Chinese Christian Council, emphasised during his introduction of various distinguished guests from UBS – one of whom was Rt Rev John Chew, Honorary President of The Bible Society of Singapore (BSS). Other representatives of BSS who attended these historic events were Dr Lee Soo Ann, the President, and the General Secretary.

Another significant milestone is the Bible in China seminar, jointly organised by The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) and Centre for Studies of Religion and Culture, with the support of the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) and UBS. This seminar was attended by Chinese local academicians and church leaders to discuss the role of the Bible in modern society. This initiative highlighted the beginning of Bible advocacy efforts in China.

As Dr Lee Soo Ann says, “It is significant that the impact of Bible printing in China has gone beyond the Bible itself, to thinking about what the Bible says.”

We pray that APC’s impact will further influence the Christian faith in China to go beyond simply reading the Bible, to allow the Word to saturate the thoughts of all who read the Scripture and transform lives worldwide.

We rejoice that the Bible miracle by APC has impacted Christendom and believe as Rt Rev John Chew asserts, “If the churches and Christians both in China and globally keep faithful and focused in discerning together what the Lord intends to do… the future of China (and any others) would be unimaginable!”

Source: UBS China Partnership