Missionaries were travelling to Manchuria as long ago as 1869, building churches, schools and hospitals. But it all seemed to disappear in the 1950's and the 1960's with Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution.
For years it was assumed that the church in China had been crushed, but not so, instead it had been driven underground and was flourishing. Indeed it has grown from 1 million members in the early 1950's to an estimated 130 million today. And it's still growing at the rate of 15,000 a day – that's equivalent to a 625-strong congregation every hour!
But sacrifice and persecution are never far below the surface of modern China, and Release International is calling on the people of Northern Ireland to support and encourage our fellow believers there.
How? Go to China as part of a prayer team, or as a courier. Or join with Release International to help in other ways. For example, a gift of £24 will place a Bible in the hands of 40 people, or you could form a prayer group in your church.
To tell the fantastic story of Irish Presbyterians in China, a series of meetings has been arranged all over the Province. Wednesday's meeting at Ballyclare Presbyterian begins at 8pm.
For more information on Release International, go to the website: www.releaseinternational.org