Stories

Firsthand accounts of faith lived out in the context of Chinese Christianity.

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Humble Chinese House Church Pastor Moses Xie Finds His Rest

This brief eulogy recalls the life and influence of Moses Xie, a patriarch in the 20th century Chinese church who endured more than two decades of imprisonment for his refusal to cooperate with the Three Self Patriotic Movement following its formation in the early 1950s. Following his release in the early 1980s Pastor Xie became a mentor to many young leaders and at times a spokesman on behalf of Christians in China to the outside world. He passed away in June of 2011, and this was published in Church China Journal in July of 2011.

• August 6, 2012 •

Songs by Xiao Cao

One thing that has been historically lacking in the Chinese church is a corpus of indigenous worship music. In the past few years, however, some musicians have begun to compose and produce music for the church. These new songs are slowly gaining popularity.

• July 12, 2012 •

The Chinese Church and the Global Body of Christ

Pastor Jin briefly looks at the history of the church in China and how it influences today's church as well as the changes the present-day church faces. He identifies six challenges facing the church and also looks to the future. In a side bar, he challenges the North American church.

• June 7, 2012 •

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Normalizing

One of the wonderful things about cross-cultural living is the nearly constant barrage of surprises. After living in a country for nearly ten years, it is easy to fool yourself into thinking that you have the place figured out, that you know what is up and what is down, what is in and what is out. Sometimes, you even seem to know what to expect and what not to expect. But when those thoughts creep in, beware something is likely to come out of left field and remind you that you are still pretty clueless about all the little things that go on in the society around you. The unexpected may throw you for a loop and make you frustrated, or even angry. However, more often than not, it can be a positive experience, something which opens a window allowing you to see that the society which you so poorly understand, and which you sometimes think barely functions, is, in fact rather "normal." Then, at least for a few minutes, you might have the feeling of being an insider instead of the outsider that you in reality always are.

• January 1, 2005 •

Why I Would Not Become a Christian

Fan Xuede’s article is not an easy one to read. Here you will find the brutally honest soul of a contemporary mainland Chinese mind, who views the West— and the Christian religion—from a 20th  century non-western perspective. You may not be ready for what you will find. A former Marxist philosopher who is now living in the United States, his words will warm your heart and move you to tears. It may also surprise, shock, anger, shame, and convict you. Our prayer is that it will move you to your knees, to prayer and to action.

• June 14, 1999 •