China’s Church through Western Eyes
Scanning the headlines on any given day, one cannot but take note of the vastly different portraits of China which emerge.
Ideas
Editorial reflection and analysis on issues shaping Chinese Christianity.
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Is China Persecuting More Christians for their Faith?
According to the China Aid 13.8% more Christians in China were persecuted last year as compared with 2011, continuing a trend of increasing persecution that goes back to at least 2007.
Christianity and Regulation in China
An article on a think-tank website in China lays out the current conditions of Christianity and religious regulations in China.
Counting China’s Christians
According to Pew Research Center's latest statistics, China has more than 600 million religious believers. Of these, an estimated 68 million are Protestant Christians, accounting for just over five percent of the population.
Getting Better or Getting Worse?
Those of us who work in China are often asked if we think that the situation for the church in China is getting better or worse. I have always found that to be a problematic question.
Fair is foul and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air
January saw some of the worst pollution in China with readings as high as over 800 for PM 2.5.
Is Xi the Modern Day Li Shi Min Leading China into Its New Golden Age?
It is often enlightening to observe what TV programs are being shown to get an inkling of what the government wants people to think. Leading up to the Olympics and June 2009, there were numerous TV serials about the Ming dynasty and Chinese venturing to places like Southeast Asia in search of a better life but not forgetting their Chinese roots. One particular serial was "" which recounts the time of China's maritime supremacy in the 1400s this all just before the 60th anniversary of its navy in 2009 and subsequent flexing of its muscles in the South China Sea.
God Has Not Forgotten England and Europe
While many in the west are concerned about the condition of the church in China, Christians in China are often concerned about the state of the church in the west. In this article, published in the Christian Times, a pastor expresses his confidence that the church in England and Europe will once again experience revival.
China by the Numbers
From the editor's desk.
Management Issues in the Rural Church
This article, from the Christian Times, highlights some of the issues facing the rural churches, which have been and are feeling the effects of urbanization.
Training and Discipleship Methods in Chinese Churches
A pioneering pastor in Beijing talks to a reporter from the Christian Times about the importance of church membership as a means of ensuring that believers receive proper spiritual nurture. The goal of church growth is not simply more people attending the church, but more disciples. He also addresses the phenomenon of lateral movement, or believers moving from one church to another, often due to dissatisfaction with their former church. His own approach of letting go and encouraging one of his congregations to become independent may seem surprising, particularly to those who believe a pastor should keep a tight reign on his flock.
Key Issues for the Church in China: A Local Perspective
If you asked most Christians in the west to identify the major issues facing the Chinese Church, the answer would probably be persecution and lack of Bibles. But what about Chinese Christians? What challenges do they see?