Under One Roof in Him

ChinaSource Team • September 17, 2025

A street with many colorful lanterns hanging from the roof. September news from ChinaSource.
A street with many colorful lanterns hanging from the roof. The lanterns are of different colors and sizes, creating a festive and lively atmosphere Image credit: Photo by itchaznong on  Adobe Stock. Image generated by AI. Licensed for use by ChinaSource.

It is my joy and privilege to welcome our new assistant content manager, Kelly Carlson, to share her brief biography, so that we can get better acquainted. We believe God led us to meet in the fullness of his time for both Kelly and the ChinaSource team. In the almost three months that Kelly has been with us, it has been refreshing to get to know her, as well as serve with someone who dearly loves the Chinese people and culture. This is a common trait among all ChinaSource team and board members, but it has been profoundly inspiring to meet Kelly and hear her unique story of how God has bestowed his love upon her, while instilling his heart for the nations.

As Kelly introduces us to her family, we are wonderfully reminded of the adoptive wonders of our Heavenly Father, and of the amazing gift and honor of being adopted into his family through Jesus Christ. Referencing the phrase she used to describe her family, we are all “under one roof” in Christ.

Welcome into the ever-growing, global ChinaSource family, Kelly—Our friendship and prayers are with you!

Kerry Schottelkorb
President

Introducing Kelly Carlson

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve with the ChinaSource team as the assistant content manager. My first day was July 1, and I have been welcomed with genuine warmth and have been thrilled daily at the work we have the privilege to put our hands and hearts to.  

I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ when I was young, after hearing and understanding the simple gospel message that God loves me, Jesus died to forgive my sin, and he wants me to live with him in heaven and not be separated from him, I made the choice to believe and follow. When I became a teen, my faith was tested as my parents divorced, and I had to have knee surgery after being injured in a high school basketball game—both around the same time. This time period slowed me down physically and emotionally and pushed me to press into the Lord as my hope, and ultimately my relationship with him grew. 

I chose to attend a Christian university, and while sitting in the center seats of my freshman psychology class, special visitors came to speak to our class. One gentleman was an American and the other, his friend, from China. They shared their love for China and the Chinese people and also talked about the One-Child Policy and the number of children, especially baby girls, abandoned. I wept in the middle of the classroom and as the other students left for their next class, I quietly said, “I’m supposed to go to China.” 

In my 20s, I spent three years living in China and teaching English. This time period continued to shape much of who I am today—how I see the world and the beauty of the Chinese culture and people—more importantly, how God sees the nations and what he thinks of them. I also thoroughly enjoyed trying all of the delicious food! My favorite is dì sān xiān (地三鲜)—which translates as “three treasures of the earth”—a dish containing eggplant, potato, and green pepper—if you are a Beijinger, you know. 

After returning to the US, I met my amazing husband, John. We have been married for twenty years and have four children through adoption. My older sons are twins and married; our younger two children were born in China. 

Family is one of the greatest blessings in my life. It is miraculous any of us are under one roof or know each other at all—besides our twins, none of us share the same blood and if you had to pick us out at a theme park— you wouldn’t match us as being in the same party let alone, family, but our hearts are knitted together. Adoption is the theme. Belonging. This is what Christ did for us. We have been adopted. We are a part of his family—all different—each one unique and yet with the same Father. As believers, our purpose is one and the same—to love and glorify his name—to live a life that speaks of him; that just by passing by or spending time with us, others would catch his aroma and be drawn into his love. 

During my career stateside, I have taught ESL at the university level, as well as worked closely with international students from the elementary through graduate level mainly from China, other parts of Asia, and the Middle East. What an honor it has been to share our lives, customs, holidays, and everyday moments together. 

At ChinaSource, I feel a powerful convergence of the many pursuits and people that I love. I am grateful for the honor of being a part of the team that is helping to tell and share the stories of the Chinese church around the world and at the same time have the ability to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord with a team that is passionate about prayer, integrity, and excellence.

Ways to Pray

Praise

  • Praise the Lord for Kelly Carlson, our new ChinaSource assistant content manager. Please be in prayer for Kelly, her husband John, their children, and extended family. Pray also for Kelly to know favor and blessing in her new role, and to grow in peace and wisdom along the way.
  • Praise the Lord for guiding the ChinaSource staff and International Board of Directors during in-person meetings in Hong Kong, September 1-3. The Holy Spirit led the deliberations in a spirit of oneness and faith as some exciting, watershed decisions were made.
  • Praise the Lord for the Summer 2025 ChinaSource Journal (Formerly known as the ChinaSource Quarterly), entitled Where Wisdom Meets Faith: The Chinese Church’s Response, and for the wise and faith-filled response of the contributors to the arrival of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Please join with our guest editor, Rev. Dr. James Hwang, in praying “that this collection will help the church move beyond a simple binary of threat or opportunity and instead step forward with the wisdom to discern the difference, leveraging this powerful new era for the glory of God.”

Prayer

  • Please pray with us for God’s financial provision in this last month of the ChinaSource Fiscal Year, October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025, as well as during the last quarter of the calendar year end, October 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Pray that God will meet all our needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

News and Notes

ChinaSource Journal, 2025 Summer Issue

Where Wisdom Meets Faith, guest editor, James Hwang.

This new ChinaSource Journal issue focusing on AI comes at an important time, where the practical benefits of AI are being weighed against important ethical and theological issues that come with every new technology.

To read this thought provoking issue of ChinaSource Journal, go to Where Wisdom Meets Faith.

ChinaSource Team News

  • On September 12, Brent Fulton spoke to the North Pacific Member Care Network on Chinese Member Care. 
  • On September 1-3, the ChinaSource staff and International Board of Directors met for in-person meetings in Hong Kong for the first time since 2018. The highlight of the meetings included a night of worship, fellowship, friendship, and partnership at a ChinaSource dinner, welcoming new and longtime friends of ChinaSource and providing ministry updates.

In Case You Missed It

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Written, translated, or edited by members of the ChinaSource staff.          

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