How can one prepare for service in China? The author provides practical insights with examples from her own experiences when she first lived in another culture. From exploring one's expectations to extending grace and embracing the challenge, Ms. Klopper offers valuable advice that can lessen the initial strain of cross-cultural living.
The author asserts that while the pace of development in China has been frenetic and its economic growth historic, there have been few substantive changes in the nation. He then addresses current trends in China, reflects on what they mean for Chinese society and the Chinese church and looks at implications for ministry by expatriate Christians living there.
Editor's Note: This editorial originally appeared in "What Every Expat in China Ministry Needs to Know" (CS Quarterly, 2013 Summer).
This weekly newsletter containing condensations of news items gathered from published sources is available via email and on the ZGBriefs page of the ChinaSource website. For daily updates follow ZG Briefs on Twitter @ZG_Briefs.
As a Chinese Christian, Jenny has worked alongside foreigners in Christian organizations for over a decade. She opens her heart and shares insights from a Chinese perspective to help new workers (and those already in China) avoid points of misunderstanding and friction as they serve with local brothers and sisters.
For those of you hard at work learning the Chinese language, an encouraging word:
A Chinese pastor offers encouragement to parents whose children are preparing to take the annual college entrance examination.
Chinese Christians go online to call for prayer for the victims of a deadly fire at a food processing plant.
The following article from the mainland site Gospel Times tells of an anti-abortion public service announcement that was posted online as well as played on Bus-TV in Chengdu, urging people to avoid having abortions on International Children's Day (June 1), and of other anti-abortion activities in Changchun, Jilin.
An intereview with a woman pastor of a Three-Self Church in Beijing about the unique challenges of balancing here ministry with being a mother.
In my last entry, I stressed the importance of having a high-level, high-impact Christian presence among the leadership in higher education institutions around the world, both Christian and non-Christian. In this post, I want to describe a program that, I believe, is the perfect vehicle for providing the tools for this presence. The program to which I am referring is Azusa Pacific University's PhD program in Global Higher Education.
A Chinese Christian comments on the milk powder scandal, reminding fellow believers to focus on Christ and the Word and not rely on works or other "spiritual additives."