[1] In 1998 there were an estimated 3 million followers independent of the official Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches in China.
The magazine Christianity Today reports that “Spinoffs from BAM, one of the fastest-growing religious groups in China, have an estimated 20 million followers, nearly twice the size of the registered church, which was re-established in 1979”.
[2] Xu had taught that weeping was an essential evidence of repentance, though in recent years this has had less emphasis in the movement.
[2] The official Chinese news agency compared Xu to David Koresh.
[2] Both registered-church and house church leaders, including Samuel Lamb and Allen Yuan, have criticized Xu and his movement for unorthodox teaching, such as the expectation that new converts weep for three days to bring about forgiveness for their sins.