wenzhou china authorities china southeastern city wenzhou outlaw sunday school early year christian parent determine children must still learn jesus bible church wenzhou start teach children private home venues bill sunday school class daycare education move saturdays dozen local christians tell reuters wenzhou sometimes know china jerusalem due sizable christian community forefront grow standoff china leadership country devout religious education children rule officially atheist communist party increase efforts curb influence christianity tighten restrictions faith class warn religion western ideas christians say resolve community wenzhou suggest party struggle exert control next generation country 60 million christians house faith come first grade come second say one parent surnamed chen ask use full name due sensitivity matter immaculately turn cream fur coat wear giant turquoise ring chen one wenzhou numerous wealthy christians say children must attend bible class state education fail provide sufficient moral spiritual guidance drug porn gamble violence serious problems among today youth video game extremely seductive tell reuters side time faith make understand right thing district wenzhou zhejiang province official edict prohibit sunday school since august accord three source direct knowledge matter provinces zhejiang fujian jiangsu henan autonomous region inner mongolia bar children faith activities include summer camp christian news site world watch monitor report september source speak reuters unaware policy local government initiative centrally mandate also know similar ban regions china also september new rule release expand state oversight religious education nationwide officials say attempt create new generation religious leaders loyal party china state administration religious affairs foreign affairs office wenzhou city government reply fax request comment last four decades economic prosperity china faithful multiply rapidly official number say around 30 million christians independent estimate suggest number 60 million protestants wenzhou small christian community start 19th century missionaries bloom one million christians recent years enjoy relatively relax relationship local officials residents say 2014 government campaign demolish illegal church tear cross adorn spark outcry christian community sow mistrust authorities among believers campaign come shortly president xi jinping communist party chief zhejiang 2002 2007 appoint general secretary party attempt stem rapid growth believers struggle wenzhou church often fund devout local business owners ubiquitous wenzhou government let church register way many lot house church tough government manage zhao gang minister wenzhou church rose-tinted cloud tell reuters sunday school textbooks especially sensitive clampdown wenzhou teachers say government restrict religious publications church often use translate texts overseas one teacher say class resume stop use unsanctioned textbooks avoid word sunday school chinese law officially grant religious freedom include children regulations education protection minors also say religion use hind state education coerce children believe local governments trouble areas china far western region xinjiang ban children attend religious events christian communities elsewhere rarely face blanket restrictions year party unusually strict warn university students state-owned enterprise employees officials celebrate christmas admonitions resist corrosion western religious culture accord state media report parent wenzhou want control children education government work create new crop religious leaders loyal party new rule govern religious school china cabinet due take effect february necessary meet china press need patriotic religious leaders wang zuoan head china official state administration religious affairs tell reuters write comment october hope talent graduate religious school standard political religious character good job combine love country love religion say many christians allow party control religious education unacceptable require put party god accord sarah cook new york-based analyst freedom house advocacy group party much control faith education always go kid home whose bedtimes stories bible cook say chen wenzhou faith forefront education believers outnumber atheists china young definitely christian believers next generation say ability christian faith inherit pass ever grow 'china 's jerusalem christians say faith trump official sunday school ban