A1: The first step is for the editorial team of a publishing company to give a careful evaluation of a book to see if it has any hope of being published. Based on prior interaction with the government censors (editors at publishing houses that have a license from the government to issue an ISBN making a book legal), the editorial team has a good idea of what will or will not be approved. The length of time really depends on the nature of the book. It can be as short as 6 months or as long as 2+ years. Individuals considering financially supporting this project should not expect quick results.

What does the government consider acceptable? This is a continually evolving issue. What was unacceptable 10 years ago is acceptable today. Currently the government is allowing Christian biographies, books on marriage and the family, and books with historical value. In the future it is possible that government policy will evolve even further allowing more genres of literature to be published. Titles that are published today may pave the way for other titles down the road.

A2: If the Chinese publisher is unable to obtain an ISBN number due to governmental censorship issues, all rights return to the author (or copyright owner) and they may use the title as they wish. If this is the case, there will be no additional expenses beyond the translation costs.

A3: No. For a book to be published and distributed in China it must have a Beijing issued ISBN number. Books with foreign issued ISBN numbers do not qualify.

A4: This is a very complex question because a whole range of factors are at work here. Political, economic, and spiritual issues are involved. To date Christian publishing has just barely scratched the surface of the 100 million member house church. Everything is still so new. Consider some facts: Christian publishing in China began in 2003 and a few reformed titles began to appear in 2005. In about 2003 the first Christian bookstore opened and today there are about 150 or 200 stores. Christian publishing in China is still so new that some Chinese believers do not even know that it is possible to purchase a legal Christian book. If a book is available, they might not be able to afford it (especially in rural areas). When a copy is purchased, many times a church member or pastor will have no qualms about making as many photocopies as he needs. On other occasions one copy might be purchased and five to ten people will read it. Sales figures alone do not tell the whole story of how a book is being used.

Considering these logistical and economic challenges, it is certain that the road ahead will be a bumpy one. However, there are many reasons to believe that reformed literature will be very warmly received. Again and again the constant request from house church members is the desire for solid, in-depth Christian literature. They are continually looking for literature that will deepen their knowledge of Scripture and help them have a closer, more intimate walk with God. For example, in 2005 a biography of John Calvin was legally published, and sales of this book have been so strong that the publisher is already printing its fifth edition.

A larger, more significant question is: How did the Chinese church develop this hunger for in-depth Christian literature? Recent Chinese church history provides some answers, for it explains where the Chinese church has come from and it gives an indicator on where it might go in the future.

When the People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949, the church had approximately one million members. Soon after that, all foreign missionaries were expelled and in the years that followed the Chinese church experienced a period of great suffering. But rather than declining, between 1950 and about 1990, the church grew at a phenomenal rate. Today China scholars estimate that the church ranges anywhere from 80 to 100 million members and continues to grow at about 9% a year. When one compares what God did in China with other periods of rapid growth in church history it seems that the best comparison is the 1904-1905 Welsh revival.¹ There is no doubt that the Welsh revival was a mighty movement of the Spirit of God that radically transformed both people and churches. Yet, at the same time the revival was also mixed with some unhealthy, unbiblical aspects that limited its influence. This same phenomena occurred in China. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit transformed the church in a powerful way between 1950 and 1990, but it was also burdened by false teaching and a lack of shepherds who knew how to guide it faithfully.

The house church in China today is very much a product of this crucial 40 year period. True revival creates many lasting influences. One of the most significant is a hunger to know God, to worship Him and to have a deeper understanding of His Word. There is also greater spiritual discernment to recognize the difference between man’s impotence and God’s omnipotent, sovereign power. Consequently, the Chinese church looks for literature that reflects those truths. The church in the West, however, has not experienced a large scale revival in over a hundred years (1905 in England and 1858 in the USA) and, as a result, desires literature that reflects its limited experience. One measure of a church’s knowledge and experience of God will be seen in the types of books that it reads. Due to these differences between the church in China and in the West it is likely that a large portion of contemporary evangelical literature from the West will have little positive long-term impact in China. Reformed literature, however, has tremendous potential because reformation theology mirrors what God does in revival.

How should reformed churches in the West move forward in regard to Christian publishing in China? We would do well to consider the example of the Banner of Truth Trust. In 1957 when the Banner of Truth first started publishing reformed literature, very few people had any interest in their work. Yet, they never gave up. They persisted and slowly, over time, a love and a passion for the doctrines of grace swept across several denominations and seminaries. There are many reasons to praise God for how He has used the Banner of Truth over the last 50+ years.

The Robert Morrison Project believes that this same approach should be applied to China. Christian publishing is still very much in its infancy and it appears that a rocky road is ahead. There are economic, political, and logistic problems that pose some very significant challenges. At the same time the hunger within the Chinese church for God-glorifying literature is enormous, possibly greater than what we see in the West. It is our opinion that as the obstacles are dealt with and overcome, reformed literature can have a vital impact in China. The lesson that we should learn from the Banner of Truth is… Give it time! Don’t give up! Government policy in China is continually evolving. Only God knows what the future holds. Our motto should be “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God” (William Carey). Perhaps 30 or 40 years from now we will look back with wonder and amazement at how God allowed the doctrines of grace to spread far and wide in China.

¹ For an excellent analysis of the 1904-1905 Welsh revival see Iain H. Murray, Pentecost – Today? The Biblical Basis for Understanding Revival (Banner of Truth Trust), pages 153 – 169.

A5: The last thing the Robert Morrison Project desires to do is to create a financial black hole for ministry funds or create an unhealthy dependency upon the church in the West for funds (“rice Christians”). No one disputes that a self-sustaining model is always the best approach. However, there are a number of factors that give good reason to believe that a temporary infusion of funds will help the Chinese church move towards a self-sustaining publishing industry.

• Chinese publishing houses (regulated by the Chinese government) set the price of a book (not bookstore owners). The government’s objective is to keep book prices low so that as many people as possible can have access to books. If publishers or bookstore owners were allowed to freely set book prices, then prices may rise and the result will be that large portions of China’s rural poor will unlikely be able to afford books. While this policy certainly helps make literature available to the largest number of people possible, it does make it more challenging for publishing companies to turn a profit. This is especially true for Christian publishing companies, all of which are less than ten years old. Consider the financial situation. The average price of a legal Christian book is between about US$3 and US$5 (which can be a significant portion of a pastor’s monthly income). The cost to translate and publish an average size book is approximately US$15,000 to US$22,000 or more. Royalty fees are generally around US$ .25 per title (25 cents). With Christian publishing companies still in their infancy and only a small backlist to provide ongoing revenue, combined with low royalty fees, it is extremely difficult for publishing companies to self-finance the publication of their own titles any time soon, especially in large quantities.

• Another very big issue hindering profitability and financial self-sufficiency is copyright infringement. Unfortunately, even within the church, pastors and church members often have no hesitation about photocopying a book for themselves and many others. This is a huge problem in China today. Photocopied books do not generate royalty fees and the absence of those fees is one reason why publishing companies continue to struggle financially. These fees are a vital part of cultivating a generation of high quality editors and support staff to serve in the newly formed Christian publishing companies. Photocopying only hinders the emergence of quality Christian literature in China and will force the publishing companies to continue to rely on foreign funding.

• Currently, the total number of Christian books in legal circulation in China is about 600. Of that number, only about 25 to 30 books are reformed. Much of what has been published so far has strong anthropocentric tones to it and, unfortunately, it is influencing the Chinese church for the worse. There is a vast publishing vacuum in China and it will be filled by something. The key question is: What kind of literature will fill that vacuum? If the reformed community around the world sits still and does not participate in the emergence of legally published reformed literature in China, this unhelpful literature will continue to have a negative impact on the church.

• One side effect of limited profits is translation quality. Poor quality translations continue to plague China today. A high quality translation requires multiple translators and editors working in concert with each other to accurately reflect the author’s original intent and root out translation errors. As the staff of a publishing company grows, so do the costs. Unfortunately, when funds are limited, publishing companies do not have the resources to hire the staff necessary to produce a quality work. One solution often proposed is the use of volunteer translators. However, this approach has a tendency to produce books of very mixed results. Many people have great desire to translate but few actually possess the skills to do so. Translating a theological or church history book from English to Chinese often requires a person with an exceptionally strong command of theological English. A degree from an English speaking seminary is preferred. Translators who possess these skills are very few and in very high demand in China.

• For the Christian community, producing a high quality translation should be our highest priority. 2 Timothy 2:15 is equally valid for both pastors who interpret the Scriptures and to people who translate Christian books. Both play a huge role in shaping people’s understanding of Scripture and how it is applied.

A6: There may be some quarters in China where the church has no access to copies of the Scriptures. However, over the last 10 to 20 years, in most cases, the local churches have been able to supply their needs through either underground printing presses or through the government Three Self churches. Today, the more pressing need is for quality Christian literature that helps the church have a stronger walk with God and a deeper knowledge of His Word. This type of literature is still rare.

A7: This is a difficult question to answer. Because government policy is continually evolving, it is difficult to say why one title is allowed and not another. The Robert Morrison Project believes that it is crucial to publish as many quality titles as possible, because a large number of titles may further relax government policy allowing even more to be published.

A8: It is true that publishing via the internet is cheaper, but the government can and does block certain websites. Further, Chinese reformed literature websites already do exist and they must compete with the hundreds (thousands?) of other Chinese Christian websites. However, the main reason is that the internet has no access to the 89,300 bookstores in China.

A9: At this point there is no time table for commencing a publishing work beyond China. For the time being China is our focus. Additional Asian countries are only a dream right now. In terms of publishing methods, all options are on the table. Generally speaking the method used will be determined on a country-by-country basis. In some regions publishing by printed books may be the best option while in other places publishing via the internet may be the best option.

A10: There are several ways to support the Robert Morrison Project:

1. It would be very helpful if organizations and individuals made a commitment to contribute to the Robert Morrison Project on a monthly basis. Regular income will assist us in establishing long term publishing goals.

2. Make a link on your organization’s website to our website.

3. A representative of the Robert Morrison Project would be delighted to speak at your event. Please send us an email using the contact page.

A10: No. To become a member the EFCA requires that each organization be at least one year old and have an annual revenue of at least $50,000 USD. The Robert Morrison Project is less than a year old and we have not met their revenue requirements. In the future we hope to become a member. If you have any questions regarding our financial health the Robert Morrison Project will be glad to send you copies of our financial reports.