Numerous accounts have been written on the enormous explosion of Christianity that has occurred across China over the past four decades. It is one of the most phenomenal successes of the worldwide Church in the twentieth century, it now being estimated that there is in excess of 100 million believers in that Far East nation.

Project of immense ambition

Paul Hattaway, a native of New Zealand and a longstanding missionary to China, is a well-established expert on the Chinese Church and has already written extensively on the topic. In this pioneering China Chronicles series, Paul digs deeper, engaging in painstaking research to document the advance of the Christian faith province by province, from the time the gospel was first introduced, right up to the present day.

It is a project of immense ambition, which, when completed, will cover all 31 provinces of China. The paperback books are being published at a rate of around two per year, and there are currently five titles published.

Paul digs deeper, engaging in painstaking research to document the advance of the Christian faith province by province, from the time the gospel was first introduced, right up to the present day.

Rather than dry, academic works, this is an exciting record of the acts of the Holy Spirit, showing how God enabled his kingdom to take root and flourish in the world’s most populated country, resulting in phenomenal growth, but all fashioned in the furnace of intense persecution.

From Shandong to Tibet

The first book in the series focuses on 'Shandong', home to almost 100 million people. Paul details how, again and again, God has poured out his Spirit with great power and grace on this populous region, to the extent that today, Shandong can rightfully be called 'China's Revival Province'.

‘Guizhou’, the next title in the series, means 'Precious State'. It is home to more than 80 distinct tribes, several of which have never been reached with the gospel. As with the other books, Guizhou includes many vivid mini-biographies of the extraordinary missionaries and Chinese nationals – many well-known, others relatively obscure – who have been part of this remarkable story.

Book three turns to ‘Zhejiang’, a prosperous eastern province, which is home to the highest percentage of Christians in China. The region contains so many churches that it has earned the nickname 'The Jerusalem of China'. In the past couple of years, the ruling party (CPC) has increased its attack on the Church. In one six-week period in November and December 2020, more than four hundred church buildings were bulldozed to the ground.

Although most Tibetans claim to be Buddhists, Buddhism for many is a veneer over older, darker beliefs. This is the only book in the series so far that doesn’t include accounts of deep, genuine revival.

The book on 'Tibet' is perhaps the first ever attempt to present an overview of all Christian activity in that region. Paul recounts stories of the many courageous, tenacious men and women who have attempted to exalt the name of Christ in Tibet, against overwhelming odds and in the face of powerful spiritual forces. For although most Tibetans claim to be Buddhists, Buddhism for many is a veneer over older, darker beliefs. This is the only book in the series so far that doesn’t include accounts of deep, genuine revival.

Unprecedented revival, persistent persecution

‘Henan’ is the most recent title in the series. This region contains the largest number of Christians of all China’s provinces – over 18 million. As such, it has emerged as the Christian heart and soul of the nation. The spectacular growth of the Church in Henan is without equal – at the same time, that growth has attracted severe persecution. The author shares how God created a purified, bold and uncompromising body of believers in Henan, who have been at the forefront of efforts to evangelise other parts of their country.

All of these five books are fast-paced and full of drama. But there is no air of triumphalism; every story being rooted in the gritty hardships of day-to-day Chinese life, augmented by ongoing severe state persecution of anyone daring to own the name of Christ Jesus.

There is no air of triumphalism; every story being rooted in the gritty hardships of day-to-day Chinese life, augmented by ongoing severe state persecution of anyone daring to own the name of Christ Jesus.

Drawing on a wide range of often little-known sources, each of the narratives is easy to read and is supplemented with an array of often rare black & white photos. While providing a detailed history of the work of God in each province from the earliest missionary arrival, The China Chronicles also gives reliable information on the state of the Church today.

This is a fascinating and lively chronicling of the life of the Chinese Church. You may not be able to collect all 31 titles in the ongoing series(!), but each book contains a very full account in itself. For those who desire a greater knowledge of what the Spirit of God has been, and still is, doing in the world’s largest nation, The China Chronicles is just the set of books for you.

‘The China Chronicles’ is published by SPCK and Piquant, and each book in the series is individually available from Amazon.