As Chinese churches, particularly those in the urban areas continue to grow and mature, leaders are increasingly focusing on where the church needs to go from here. This article, published in the Christian Times, is about Pastor Zhang of the Beijing Gospel Missionary Church, and his thoughts on the issues facing the Chinese Church in the near future.
Crossing the river by feeling the stones, a popular Chinese idiom, is a fitting way to describe Chinas emerging urban church. Its leaders have no older generation to look up to, and the opportunities and challenges they face are unprecedented in Chinas history. In this article published in the Christian Times, one pastor describes the dangers facing todays urban church leaders. He cautions them to be humble and teachable, as the decisions they make will affect an entire generation.
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.
While much attention has been given in the West to the Chinese church's Back to Jerusalem vision, the realization of this vision has been a slow and difficult process.
The authors review the origins and history of the house church movement then go on to discuss the current urban house church situation including civic engagement and Christian publications.
The following is a panel discussion that explores the future of Christianity in China. It deals with both the problems and the opportunities facing the Chinese house church today. The panelists included Ezra Jin of Zion Church, Beijing; Man De, a scholar with China Ministries International; Daniel Li of Blessings Foundation and Franklin Wang, a seminary student from Beijing.
The church in China is experiencing change in strategy as well as a change in position. It is preparing to engage the world.
The background, education and experience of house church leaders of China varies greatly. These profiles provide a glimpse of that variety and the challenges these leaders face.