Frontline World Season 7 Episode 5
Frontline World
Season 7

Ep 5. Jesus in China

  • June 24, 2008

Jesus in China is season 7, episode 5 of the documentary series Frontline World. In this episode, the focus is on how Christianity is spreading in China, which is essentially an atheistic country. Halima Gikandi travels to China to report on the growth of Christian churches in the region and the challenges they face from the Chinese government.

The episode opens with Halima visiting a underground Christian church in Beijing, where she meets Pastor Li who shares his story of persecution at the hands of the government for his faith. Pastor Li talks about how the government views Christianity as a tool of the West to undermine the Chinese ideology and that's why there is an ongoing crackdown on Christian churches and their members. Halima tries to understand how Christians in China are coping with this and still growing in numbers.

Halima then travels south to the city of Wenzhou, which is known as the "Jerusalem of China" because of its large Christian population. She visits the Chongfu Church, one of the largest churches in the city, and is surprised to find out that it looks more like a shopping mall than a traditional church. The church, like many others in China, has adopted a more modern approach to attract and keep young people interested in Christianity. Halima observes many different services, including a rock concert style worship, and talks to some young people about their faith.

The episode also features an exclusive interview with Pastor Wang Yi, who is the founder and leader of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu. Pastor Wang talks about the importance of the Church in China as a place of refuge for people who are struggling under the authoritarian government and that the Church is getting "bigger and stronger" despite the government's attempts to shut them down. He also discusses some of the difficulties he has faced, including being harassed by the government and detained for a short time.

Another remarkable feature of this episode is that it focuses not only on Christianity, but also on other religions and belief systems that openly flourish in China, such as Buddhism and Daoism. Halima visits various temples and learns about the peaceful coexistence of different religions and the role they play in people's lives.

The final act of the show is set in a remote village in Yunnan Province where Halima spends time with a group of Yi people, one of China's ethnic minorities. She discovers that the Yi people have their own religion, which includes worshipping their ancestors. Here, Halima explores the idea that the Chinese Communist Party seeks to undermine religious practices that are considered a part of traditional Chinese culture, which includes the worship of ancestors and local spirits.

In conclusion, Jesus in China is an insightful episode that provides a rare glimpse into the complexities of religious faith in China, and how different kinds of belief systems coexist in an increasingly atheistic society. It highlights the challenges faced by Christians, especially those who belong to underground churches, but also manages to showcase the resilience of these religious communities in the face of adversity. The episode is informative and thought-provoking and is a must-watch for anyone who wants to learn more about religious practices in China.

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Description
  • First Aired
    June 24, 2008
  • Language
    English