Among Yaks, Monasteries, and Memories
A journey into the Tibetan grasslands of Gannan brings Hugh Battye into the rhythms of nomadic family life, local religious practice, and an unexpected memory of an earlier Christian presence in the region.
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Reframing the Mission (3)
Disciples are made to need one another, and in their interdependence they reveal God's glory.
Stamps and Negotiations
Fieldwork among the Bonan in Gansu begins with stamps, permissions, and a search for somewhere to stay, revealing along the way how differently a researcher and his hosts can understand hospitality, access, and an “authentic” experience.
China in the Plural
Drawing on fifteen years in mainland China, Hugh Battye reflects on the very different worlds he encountered—and on what can disappear when we speak of “China” as though it were a single cultural experience.
Reframing the Mission (2)
God is glorified as Christ’s followers become disciples, showing through their fruit—their true identity in him. The command here is not to bear fruit, but to abide.
Reframing the Mission (1)
A decade ago, there was a groundswell of discussion and activity among global Christian organizations around how best to partner with China’s emerging mission…
How God Provides
Whether through manna in the wilderness, Elijah’s ravens, Paul’s tents, or the generosity of the Philippian church, Scripture is replete with examples of God using any and all of these means to provide for his people.
On Patience, Peace, and an Ordinary Afternoon
In a world trained to look for conflict and clarity, choosing to notice patience and harmony may itself be an act of faith.
Horses in Chinese Culture and the Bible
The qualities often celebrated through the horse in Chinese culture—strength, perseverance, diligence, endurance—may rightly be received as genuine gifts of common grace. And yet Scripture insists on a boundary we forget at our peril: the horse cannot save.
Narrating Persecution
The journey from mythmaking to mission entails putting aside our chosen metanarratives, seeing with fresh eyes and listening with fresh ears, not only to the facts as we perceive them but also to the narratives of those in the stories as they interpret their own reality.
What the Chinese Mission Movement Means for the Global Church
As the Chinese mission movement collaborates with the rest of the global church in mission, how will it reshape global Christianity?
So Many Tones!
Learning a few phrases in a few Chinese dialects was very challenging for me, but it is one of the best and most meaningful ways to engage with and minister alongside Chinese communities.