The most important reason I am optimistic about ministry opportunities in China is because of the strength of China’s own church, and the skills and maturity of the expatriates who have gone the distance in China and are still there.
I first went to China in 1985, serving there until 2012. The level of surveillance and scrutiny of expatriates at that time was high… While the current ministry context, with highly technological surveillance tools, feels restrictive, it appears to be a change in method, rather than a change in concept. We have been here all along.
For at least the foreseeable future, China will be an increasingly difficult place for expatriates to live and work. However, for those who find a way to meet the requirements to remain in the country, there is a general openness to new ideas that provides fertile ground for the gospel.
Bryant outlines the four areas in which China has most changed over the past decade. He discusses what these involve and their significance for the church in China.
The World According to China looks at the broader policy decisions made by the Chinese government within the context of Xi’s call for the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese state.” The author details how Xi “envisions a China that has regained centrality” in a global world.
What does it mean to pursue the “Chinese Dream”? And how can those of us who watch a film like Ascension move away from judgement and toward understanding and compassion for people struggling to achieve their dream?
Following a rapid downturn in 2012, what are the prospects for China's economy in 2013? What trends are being seen, and what do they indicate? How do social and political considerations interact with the economy and does this have any impact for Christianity? Based on statistics, Dr. Zhao gives his outlook for China's economic future.