As the Content Manager at ChinaSource, the past two and a half years have placed me in a unique position—one shaped daily by stories, ideas, resources, and scholarship. Through them, I and many of our readers have encountered God’s work in quiet, sometimes unexpected ways. These narratives have taught me that “content” is never merely information, but a way people seek understanding, participate in God’s movement, and make sense of a world that often feels unsettled, which is, at its heart, an invitation to explore Chinese Christianity—together.
Our website—faithful and steady through more than two decades—holds an extraordinary archive. It has been a kind of grand library, and at times a treasure-filled maze, safeguarding research, reflections, and stories of Chinese Christianity from around the world. Its richness has sustained us, connected us, and shaped who we are as a community. Yet its structure grew out of a different moment in how people read and search. From time to time, readers would tell me that they were confident what they needed was somewhere on the shelves—but they weren’t always sure where to begin the search.
At the same time, the ways people read and receive information have shifted. Readers move between screens, explore topics through conversational search, and look for visual cues that help them navigate complex ideas. These shifts gently invited us to rethink not only how the website looks, but how it welcomes—how it offers orientation, room to explore, and space to stay with a story. Over time, this realization led us to imagine a website that could better guide, accompany, and invite deeper engagement.
From a Library Toward a More Conversational Space
As we reflected on what kind of space we hope to offer our readers, we realized that a library alone was no longer enough. Preservation remains essential—but so is invitation.
The image of a gallery helped us think about clarity and focus: a place where stories are brought into the light, where structure and flow help readers see what matters without being overwhelmed by abundance.
Beyond that, we found ourselves drawn to the idea of a more conversational space—a place where readers can pause, reflect, and engage at their own pace. A space that feels open rather than hierarchical, thoughtful rather than hurried. A place where believers, scholars, pastors, and seekers can sit with complexity and find companionship in the questions they carry.
The new ChinaSource website hopes to hold these images together: a library that preserves, a gallery that brings clarity, and a space that gently invites conversation.
Reading with You, Not Over You
As we reimagined the website as a more conversational space, we also took a careful look at how our content reaches you.
Over the years, many readers have told us—sometimes quietly, sometimes directly—that while they value the depth and range of ChinaSource’s work, receiving something every day can feel like a burden rather than a gift. In a world already saturated with information, even good content can become overwhelming when it arrives too often.
At the same time, we also know that some readers genuinely appreciate a daily rhythm. We often hear back from those who read regularly, respond thoughtfully, and engage with us in ongoing conversation—and we treasure that connection deeply. These exchanges have shaped our work more than we can say.
For that very reason, the decision to reduce our email frequency was not an easy one. It reflects a season of discernment—held with gratitude for faithful readers who have walked closely with us, and with attentiveness to the changing ways many people now choose to read and engage.
In response, we are planning to reshape how our emails are sent. Rather than daily messages, we are going to gather our core content into one weekly email—ChinaSource Weekly—offering a more spacious rhythm that respects both your time and attention. We hope this creates room to read with intention, or simply to visit the site when curiosity draws you there. Alongside the website and email, we will also continue to share and explore our content across other spaces—such as social media, and, in time, new formats like audio—meeting readers where they already are.
At the same time, some rhythms remain unchanged. ZGBriefs will continue on its regular Thursday schedule, and The Lantern will still arrive once a month as a more reflective note from our team. ChinaSource Journal, meanwhile, will be sent only to those who choose to subscribe, and only when a new issue is published—allowing deeper, long-form engagement to remain just that: intentional and unrushed.
These changes reflect a simple conviction: meaningful reading is not about frequency, but about readiness. We want to meet readers where they are—not by demanding attention, but by offering space.
Looking Ahead
This renewal is not about leaving our past behind but about caring for it well—so that the stories entrusted to us can continue to be found, read, and engaged in the seasons ahead. As we prepare to introduce the new website, we do so with gratitude for the ground we stand on, and with hope for the conversations still to come.
In the days ahead, we’ll also be sharing a reflection from our design partner at Ritual Studio. Their piece offers a thoughtful look at how this visual-renewal was shaped—not as a redefinition of ChinaSource’s work, but as a way of faithfully carrying it forward.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you.
