A monthly update sharing stories and reflections from the ChinaSource team on God’s work in and through China.
Since its founding more than 15 years ago ChinaSource has looked to a set of core values to guide its work. Much has changed in China over these years, yet these core values have remained largely unchanged. Here we look at these values as they relate to the current situation in China and to ChinaSource’s service to the Christian community in China and worldwide.
This month, it is with excitement that we announce the launch of ChinaSource Conversations!
An opportunity to serve the church in China in developing training and resources on biblical generosity.
This past month, there have been two stories of particular interest and relevance to Christians in China and to foreigners who serve there. One was the announcement by the authorities in Zhejiang Province of a draft regulation limiting the size of church buildings and the size and placement of crosses on churches. The second was the central government's publication of a draft Foreign NGO Management Law, which would govern how foreign NGOs can operate in China. If enacted as proposed, each of these could have far-reaching consequences to both the local and foreign Christian communities in China.
A look at ChinaSource initiatives for Christian leaders in China facing new challenges in their ministries.
In addition to our online publications that provide information about the church in China, ChinaSource team members also engage with the Christian community through attending and/or speaking at various events. We’d like to highlight a few of the recent events we had the privilege of being a part of.
The phenomenal growth of China’s church has, justifiably, given rise to much discussion about how Christianity will impact China’s future...Beneath the upbeat reports of the church’s growing numbers and influence, however, is the harsh reality that unprecedented growth accompanied by a severe shortage of trained leadership has left the church increasingly vulnerable to cults and heresies.
One of ChinaSource’s core values is to be a learning organization. Centuries of Christian involvement in the Middle Kingdom provide a wealth of lessons on what has – and has not – served to advance the gospel in China.
The winter issue of the ChinaSource Quarterly has just been published. In this issue we explore the spiritual journey of Chinese people who are finding Christ and growing in him through the ministry of the Catholic Church in China. Brent Fulton, editor of the Quarterly, writes in his introduction to “A Window into Catholicism in Today’s China:”
By at least some calculations, the size of China’s economy exceeded that of the United States this month, putting China in first place. Setting aside the fine points of those calculations (which will likely be the subject of much debate for some time to come), it is clear that China’s economic rise has had far-reaching consequences –including for the Body of Christ – both domestically and internationally,.
A look back over the past year.
As we post this issue of The Lantern, China’s top leaders have just concluded their annual Party plenum in Beijing. During this “Fourth Plenum” they gave shape to policies that will be endorsed by China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, in the spring.