Articles
Resource Corner
Resources to Help You with Transitions
Information about retreats, seminars, debriefings, and books to help both you and your family with transitions.
Supporting Article
Of Returns and Runways
The author shares the experiences of his family and God’s provisions after leaving China and returning to the United States.
Supporting Article
The Church’s Role with Returnees from China
Suggestions are given for practical ways in which churches can help ease the transition of cross-cultural workers returning from China to their home country.
Supporting Article
Debriefing before the Final Goodbye
The author provides debriefing questions that can assist in evaluating life in China and aid in healthy transitions.
9 Best Practices for a Chinese Missionary Sending Organization
Strategies to Assist with Chinese Missionary Sustainability
The Chinese church passionately desires participation in missionary sending. Through a survey of the mission sending literature and field research with Chinese missionaries, nine best practices for Chinese mission sending are proposed that may facilitate long-term Chinese missionary sustainability.
Toward the Development of Mission-Sending Organization in China
Building the Chinese Missionary Sending Infrastructure
The Chinese church passionately desires participation in missionary sending. Mission sending organization musters the intentionality needed to sustain long-term missionary sending. In this article, I present a three pronged approach to Chinese mission sending organization development.
Lead Article
History: It’s Essential
Strong faith is built upon history. Knowledge and reflection on history are essential for the church and for those who serve.
Supporting Article
Fragmented and Complacent
The Chinese Church that Lacks Historical Consciousness
The Chinese church’s lack of historical consciousness is longstanding. While the secular world has increased its understanding of history in many areas, the church has lagged behind. Only recently has research into church history begun. As it becomes known, the church needs to recognize that history has practical applications and must learn how to apply these. When this does not happen, there are negative effects, and the author discusses some of these.
Supporting Article
Traditional Chinese Views of History and Contemporary Chinese Christianity
Following a brief review of the ways Chinese have viewed their history over the centuries, the author turns to the consideration of how today’s PRC citizens view their history. All Chinese views of history have included “history” that is promoted nationally and directly serves the interests of the state. This approved narrative means that for most Chinese there is a nation-wide, generally agreed upon social narrative that may well be the only one he or she knows. The author then offers four items for the foreigner to remember when considering Chinese history or Chinese Christian history.
View From the Wall
Why Believers Need to Understand Chinese Church History
We must know the past to understand the present. For the most part, Chinese Christians do not understand Chinese church history; therefore, they often have no means to properly respond to changes in society. A look back at Chinese church history shows us that many of the difficulties faced by today’s Chinese church have similarities to those that have confronted the church over the years. Not only can history suggest appropriate ways to respond to today’s difficulties, it can help us discern God’s purposes in the present.