China now world’s largest producer of Bibles

NANJING, China — China, the world’s largest producer of textiles and manufactured goods, is now the largest producer of Bibles. In 2012, the country’s sole Bible printer, Amity Printing, produced 12 million Bibles and New Testaments.

Amity Printing started in 1988 as a joint effort of the British United Bible Societies and Amity Foundation, the charity arm of the Three Self Church. Bible production increased from 500,000 the first year to 12 million last year. Bibles are printed in more than 90 languages, and of the 88.9 million Bibles printed between 1988 and late 2011, 33.2 million were exported.

Amity’s Bibles are distributed to China’s 55,000 registered churches and anyone can purchase them there for an affordable 9.50 Yuan ($1.50).

Christians who are found in possession of an Amity-printed Bible do not face punishment. But Christians in rural house churches far from registered congregations have a difficult time getting Bibles.