Chinese Bibles
A new printing press is due to open in China which will make it one of the biggest Bible producing countries in the world. According to a report in The Guardian newspaper the 48,000-sq metre factory in an industrial park in Nanjing will employ 600 non-Christian locals producing 23 Bibles a minute.
The Amity Printing Company, a joint venture with the British Bible Society, printed its 50 millionth Bible last December and its new press will double annual production to 12 million. Most of the Bibles will be distributed in China in 10 languages and Braille. The plant is expected to supply a quarter of the world’s Bibles by 2009.
However, persecution of believers in China is still rife. Barnabas Fund reports that in April 46 Christians were arrested in Xianjiang region while holding a Bible class and worshipping in a private home. Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials broke into the home, arresting all of the Christians present.
All but two were released on bail after their family members paid 50 yuan (approximately £3.50) to the PSB. The Christians were asked to confess their illegal Sunday worship activities and study the government’s handbook on religious policy.
They were released on the condition that they return and recite the policy to the PSB within one week. The two other Christians, Ding Zhichun (40) and Ma Wenxiu (42), were detained for 15 days. Mr Ding was apparently detained because he had opened his home for the worship service.
