by Jordan Hilger, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Attacks on churches exploded in China in 2019, according to a new Open Doors USA report, increasing from 171 in 2018 to 5,576 in 2019, as the Chinese government attempts to 'Sinicize' faith.
The communist country, which is home to around 97 million Christians, rose four spots to number 23 on the 2020 World Watch List of the 50 worst countries for Christian persecution.
“The Chinese government is nearly single-handedly responsible for the steep increase in churches and Christian buildings attacked in 2019,” David Curry, CEO of Open Doors, said. "If they continue down this path they will be the single largest violator of human rights worldwide.”
While no Christians were killed in China in 2019, the online sale of Bibles was banned, teachers were asked to sign documents renouncing their faith, the elderly had their pensions cut off for their professions of Christianity, and landlords were pressured to cancel leases with churches.