On the twentieth anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square, Chinese Christian leaders are calling for forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation.

The anniversary is highlighted in a video bulletin on the persecuted church put together by Release International.

Many of today's Christian leaders were involved in the movement of students calling for democracy, which was crushed by government tanks. The Chinese Red Cross say thousands were killed.

In the period of disillusionment and despair that followed, some of those student activists became Christians. Today they're calling for an investigation into the Tiananmen massacre to determine the truth of what happened and for all involved to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

More than 80 Chinese Christian leaders say the massacre "awakened our sense of social justice".

They added: "We are not fundamentally different from the decision-makers, commanders or transactors of the massacre, except for encountering the grace and forgiveness of God."

Their declaration calls on all Chinese Christians to seek reconciliation on the basis that the truth must come out and justice be done.

The Chinese authorities have continually played down the Tiananmen massacre, silencing debate on the subject and referring to the killing of student protestors by the army as simply 'the Tiananmen incident'.

The Release report also highlights moves by the Chinese president to begin to recognise the importance of faith in China by adding the word 'religion' to the Communist Party constitution.

The step has been welcomed by Release International, which serves persecuted Christians worldwide, but Release says the day must come when China grants full freedom of faith to its people.

"The Chinese church is thriving and growing rapidly, but heavy-handed restrictions on Christianity mean many believers are forced to worship in secret. Members of the underground Church are subject to arrest, imprisonment and even torture," he said.

"All this could stop tomorrow, if China were willing. Chinese Christians want nothing more than the basic freedom to worship God in peace and serve their nation.

"On the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen, the Chinese government should demonstrate it has moved on from the Cultural Revolution when churches, temples and mosques were burned and pastors routinely arrested.

"This anniversary is China's opportunity to show the world it can trust its citizens with freedom."

Speaking in the report, Yu Xinli, who pastors one of the largest government-sanctioned churches in Beijing, says: "Christianity is not a threat to China. Christians are law-abiding citizens and can be good role models for society."

The Chinese government acknowledges that millions of its people are turning to religions like Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam. A recent survey found that 50 per cent of Chinese considered religion important in their lives – including members of the political class. At a conservative estimate there are upwards of 110 million Christians in China.

"God is at work in China," said Release. "Please pray for China's Christians, both in the underground church and in those churches granted limited freedom by the state. Pray that China's Christians will be ambassadors of Christ and instruments of reconciliation – and for the day when China grants full freedom of worship."

On the web: World Update on the Persecuted Church by Release International features dramatic footage of the Tiananmen Square protest and can be viewed on www.releaseinternational.org