Macau Yearbook 2013 - Macao Yearbook

Religion and Customswho are experiencing personal problems. During the year, 1,602 people – 632 residents and 970non-residents – benefited from the wide range of services provided by these institutions.The Catholic Church is also engaged in other activities. It operates a bookshop, libraries, culturaland media affairs centres, a conference centre, social service centres, social welfare organisations,summer camps and retreats. It also publishes a few religious periodicals.ProtestantismMacao is considered an important base for the introduction of Christianity to China in modernProtestant history. The religion was introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty, Yuan Dynastyand Ming Dynasty, a total of four times. Macao was involved in the last two introductions.Robert Morrison was the first missionary from the London Missionary Society to arrive in Macao,in 1807. He then opened the fourth chapter in the history of pioneering Christianity in China. Hebaptised Choi Kou in 1814, and made him the first Chinese protestant. He led services in Macaoand Guangzhou for 27 years, serving as a bridge for cultural exchanges between the West andChina. In the 19th century, Protestant missionaries came mainly from Britain and America, andwere engaged in local cultural and religious activities, becoming driving forces in modern China’shealthcare, education, printing and publishing. In 1834, Robert Morrison died; his body lies in theOld Protestant Cemetery, beside the Luis de Camoes Garden.After the Opium War, the missionary base in Macao was moved to Hong Kong and Shanghai.But Macao still played an active role in the development of Protestant churches in the Pearl RiverDelta area.Entering the 20th century, a succession of Chinese Protestant churches were established,through the efforts of missionaries and returning Chinese believers. The Macau Baptist Church wasestablished in 1904; the Chi Tou Church of the Church of Christ in China was established in 1906at Hac Sa Beach; and Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican Church) began their missionary activities inMacao in 1938. In the early 1950s, there were about five Protestant churches. By the 1980s, thenumber of Protestant churches had increased to 20. During the 1990s, missionary organisationsfrom Hong Kong and overseas arrived to establish branches, and further increased the number ofProtestant churches to over 50 throughout Macao.Today, major Protestant denominations in Macao include the Church of Christ in China,Baptist Church, Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican Church), Sheun Tao Church, Christian andMissionary Alliance, Conservative Baptist Church, Assemblies of God, Church of the UnitedBrethren in Christ, and the Evangelical Free Church. There are nearly 80 Protestant churches,with about 150 pastors and more than 8,000 believers. Some 4,400 believers currently attendSunday worship each week.Of the schools established by Protestants, four are secondary schools with primary andkindergarten sections; three are primary schools with kindergarten sections; one is a special educationschool; and there is one biblical institute. There are also several training centres and two bookshopsoperated by Protestant groups.The Union of Evangelical Christian Churches and Associations in Macau was established in407