Christianity is persecuted and weakening in several nations around the world while a huge number of new Christians enter into the faith in China.
"Some Sundays we are full. We also have 1,600 volunteers," said Zhou Lianmei, the pastor's wife of the Chongyi Church, one of the biggest mega-churches in the country. The church's capacity is up to 5,000 worshipers and there are several services available every Sunday.
In some parts of China, it's not uncommon to see people line up to attend Christian Sunday services in massive buildings such as stadiums.
"I come because I found a love here that isn't dependent on a person. It is like a river that doesn't go away," stated a young entrepreneur based in Hangzhou, the city where Chongyi Church is located.
Nearby city Wenzhou - called "China's Jerusalem" - alone has a population of approximately over 1 million Protestants out of a population of 9 million. There are estimates that in 2030, China will be home to the most number of Christians on the planet.
"Chinese Christians know the Bible better than some Southern Baptists. That's not a small thing," said Philip Wickeri, a well-known Anglican based in Hong Kong.
In previous decades, Christianity was seen as a religion for poor elder women but that view has been significantly shifting. Many of the newly baptized Chinese Christians are young, well educated and earn a comfortable living.
China's chief of religious affairs said last year that half a million Christians are baptized in the nation annually. Texas-based Baylor University and Peking University conducted a joint study that estimated 70 million Christians over 16 years of age reside in China, a number not far below the 83 million membership count of the Communist Party.
Despite the massive amount of Chinese Christians, the government has been active in cracking down on the faith, like in the case of the Gulou Church in Hangzhou. A large crucifix was scheduled to be removed by the government.
The members of the parish did not cower in fear. When the announcement about the cross' removal was made, members of Gulou Church surrounded the crucifix and chanted "cross, cross, cross." while praying together.
A pastor recounted the experience:
"We felt helpless. We told them how important this cross is, but they didn't listen. They can take the cross from our church but they can't take it from our hearts."
