Christianity in China and the global diaspora have taken on new layers of complexity, crossing many traditional boundaries. One of the editors of a new book on the subject reflects on what this means for the study of and working relationships in the Chinese church.
Key issues for Chinese American Churches.
Understanding the cultural distinctiveness of the Chinese immigrant community doesn’t downplay the role scripture plays in reorganizing one’s philosophical frameworks, and the Holy Spirit’s role in illuminating one’s mind and hear—it helps us to further differentiate the substance of the gospel and the outward forms of the gospel.
Sung by the Chicago Chinese Christian Chorale.
We are grateful to the contributors of the winter ChinaSource Quarterly for providing us the opportunity to be richly informed in such a crucial season. I hope we can all come to this reading as humble learners, challenged to seek, understand, and grow.
The president of ChinaSource, Rev. Schottelkorb, points out some of the highlights of this issue, especially the comprehensive historical context of Chinese Christianity in North America.
In her book, Lee examines the ways xenophobia manifests itself, and how it has been directed at specific groups of immigrants throughout American history. From the pre-Revolutionary War period to the Muslim Ban of 2017, this book points out that the fear of foreigners manifests contemporary social, political, and economic anxieties.
From the guest editors.
In the United States, Asian Americans, including Chinese Americans, have been presented as sterling examples of immigrants who have ascended through the ranks to achieve the American dream. Lee explores this concept, how Chinese Americans see themselves, and the impact of this perception upon their faith and church life.
Two short-term team members tell us their purpose, give us a model, and recount their experiences in Kenya. They hope to mobilize Chinese churches in North America and mainland China to send short-term and long-term missionaries to Africa as well as raise up diaspora Chinese missionaries from Africa.
The author was asked to take on a research project studying the Chinese Christians of Chicagoland with the purpose of discerning ministry trends of this diasporic faith community, assessing issues facing Chinese churches, and exploring ministry opportunities.
In this interview, Rev. Man, the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Chinese Church in Villa Park, Illinois, tells of the growth of the church, how Chinese immigration has affected it, and the challenges it has faced.