Dr. Burklin heard guesstimates that ranged from 20 million to as high as 200 million Christians, but none of these figures were the result of actual surveys. “There was a lot of speculation swirling around,” Burklin says. Indeed, this news service reported one estimate of 130 million Christians in China reportedly made by a Chinese government official earlier this year, which Burklin disputes.

To get the facts, China Partner sent teams to every province, municipality and autonomous region in China – 31 in all. The only region they did not survey was Tibet. Over a 13-month period, his team interviewed 5,430 people ranging in age from 16-92 from a wide variety of occupations. The surveys took place in parks, markets, subways, buses, on the streets, and in numerous other locales.

Based on their polling, Burklin believes there are 39 million Protestant Christians in China, with a three percent margin of error. He estimates roughly half are in the underground church, and the other half are in government-approved churches.

Some might question whether those polled would be completely forthright, considering the history of persecution directed against believers – particularly toward the underground church. “In 1981 people were scared stiff if you mentioned religion, because the government persecuted every religious group during the Cultural Revolution,” Burklin notes. “But that’s totally changed,” he maintains. “Our researchers were astounded that people were so responsive.”

Burklin believes part of the difference between 1981 and today is that tens of thousands of Chinese students have gone overseas to study, and returned with a different worldview. Likewise, inroads by international business and dramatic changes in communication technologies have also contributed to the changes he observed.

“Hardly any seemed to be reluctant to respond,” Burklin notes. “It was quite significant to observe how quickly a flash of a smile came across those who were believing Christians…there was no sign of anxiety or apprehension.” Christians and non-Christians alike offered to show his researchers the way to local churches.

His findings met resistance from some Christian leaders in the U.S. “I’m very disappointed with evangelical leaders who readily accept numbers they want to be true without going into depth,” Burklin says. “Billy Graham had some influence on me. He never tried to exaggerate his crusade numbers – the number of people who walked forward.”

Some maintain there are more Christians in the rural areas of China, places possibly missed by China Partner’s researchers. “Many say there are more Christians in the rural areas than in the urban centers,” he notes. “We were surprised our research didn’t prove that to be true, but more research is needed.”

Burklin readily agrees there are more Christians in some provinces than others, and would like to do more research in rural areas he’s told there are greater numbers of believers. “I’m not saying this is scientifically perfect, but it does give a reliable and general understanding of what the facts are.”

Interestingly, another survey done at about the same time as Burklin’s confirms his results. Professor Liu Zhongyu from East China Normal University in Shanghai surveyed 4,500 people in every province in China over a 12-month period during 2006 and 2007. His survey found 40 million Protestant Christians and roughly 14 million Catholics, with about 10 million Catholics worshipping in underground churches and the remainder in government-approved churches.

Most believe there were approximately 700,000 Christians in 1949, when China closed to traditional missionary activities. So 53-54 million Protestants and Catholics today still demonstrates remarkable growth. “I think the growth of the church in China is faster than anywhere in the world in church history,” Burklin proudly notes. “I’m thankful for what God is doing in China.”

“What’s caused the church to grow in China?” he asks. “We don’t know for sure, but God has the providence to do it His way. He has chosen China to be a field that’s multiplied like no other.”