A pioneering pastor in Beijing talks to a reporter from the Christian Times about the importance of church membership as a means of ensuring that believers receive proper spiritual nurture. The goal of church growth is not simply more people attending the church, but more disciples. He also addresses the phenomenon of lateral movement, or believers moving from one church to another, often due to dissatisfaction with their former church. His own approach of letting go and encouraging one of his congregations to become independent may seem surprising, particularly to those who believe a pastor should keep a tight reign on his flock.
ChinaSource Team
•
December 28, 2012
•
Ideas
An update from the last post.
ChinaSource Team
•
December 24, 2012
•
Stories
In 2008, members of the English fellowship of Haidian Christian Church in Beijing did a series of "man on the street" interviews, asking people what they knew about Christmas and Jesus. The video was then used in their Christmas program at the church. Christmas may be popular in China, but most people still don't have any idea what it is really all about.
ChinaSource Team
•
•
Stories
Good News in China makes it easy for English and international Chinese speakers to share good resources in Chinese with coworkers, neighbors and friends!
ChinaSource Team
•
December 21, 2012
•
Scholarship
China's Eastern Lightning cult is back in the news again, thanks to the ancient Mayans. It seems that their calendar comes to an end on December 21, causing millions to believe that the day will mark the end of the world. The "doomsday" craze has hit China big-time and the Eastern Lightning cult (which, for some reason, media outlets have taken to calling the Almighty God cult) has used the opportunity to launch an "evangelistic" offensive in China, telling people that the only way to be saved from the coming apocalypse is to join the Eastern Lightning group.
Joann Pittman
•
•
Stories
The ancient Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012, leading many around the world to believe that day will mark the end of the world. PRI's Mary Kay Magistad reports that, according to a Reuters survey, "China ranks highest when it comes to end-of-the-world fears. Some 20 percent of those surveyed expected something to happen on Dec. 21." This article, posted on the Tianya Forum site, asks the question "How will you spend the rest of your life if the world doesn't end in 2012?," then gives an answer from a Christian perspective.
ChinaSource Team
•
December 18, 2012
•
Stories
In this article in the Gospel Times, the testimony of Joni Eareckson Tada touches the hearts of readers in China. An artist who paints by holding a pen or brush in her mouth, Joni manifests the inner beauty that comes from knowing Christ.
ChinaSource Team
•
•
Stories
Bishop K. H. Ting, the most influential leader of the State-controlled Protestant church in China over the last 50 years, died peacefully in Nanjing on November 22, aged 97.
Anonymous
•
December 17, 2012
•
Stories
These two testimonies are taken from the website of the Quan Nan Church, in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. Quan Nan Church is a registered church, affiliated with the Chinese Christian Council/Three-self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM).
ChinaSource Team
•
December 14, 2012
•
Stories
Even though it is not an official holiday in China, Christmas has become extremely popular as a commercial/consumer event. Stores put up trees and clerks don Santa hats. However, most people in China do not know the real story behind Christmas -- the story of Jesus. The popularity of Christmas presents Christians with a unique opportunity to share the gospel. This article, from the Christian Times, is about a pastor in Beijing encouraging his congregation to tell their friends and family about Jesus this Christmas season.
ChinaSource Team
•
December 11, 2012
•
Stories
Going back as far as the Tang Dynasty, this article traces the advance of the gospel in the city of Beijing over the space of more than 1000 years. Today its influence can be seen through contributions made by Christians of previous generations in areas such as medicine, economics, education, and culture, and in the exponential growth of the church since 1949. As China's most important city, Beijing plays a central role in the continued expansion of the gospel both within China and beyond China's borders.
ChinaSource Team
•
December 7, 2012
•
Stories
If you asked most Christians in the west to identify the major issues facing the Chinese Church, the answer would probably be persecution and lack of Bibles. But what about Chinese Christians? What challenges do they see?
Joann Pittman
•
December 5, 2012
•
Ideas