In autumn of 2023, we published a series called “How We Hear from the Church in China.” In each installment, our contributors looked at a different aspect of hearing from believers in China. Today we’re looking back at that series, as well as several posts from our column “Chinese Church Voices.” While hearing from the church in China is undoubtedly more difficult than it was even 10 years ago, God is still creating unexpected channels that connect believers the world over.
Hearing from the Church in China, Part 1 and Part 2
Thomas Muller began the series with a two-part post. The first part examines the fact that it’s increasingly difficult to find information on China from newspapers, magazines, and think tanks. The number of English-language articles published on China in 2023 was less than half the number published in 2019.
In the second part, Muller looks at the political environment of China: much less open to foreigners and much more concerned with security. This means that there can be serious risks for Chinese who interact with foreigners. However, despite the difficulties, Muller points out that the cycle of openness and isolation has played out many times in China. God is still at work, and there is always enough time for him.
Whispers from Within
E.F. Gregory shows in her article that, because of the tightening in China, direct contact with friends still in the country, as well as those who have recently left, is one of the best ways to learn about the current state of affairs. In addition to learning about their own experiences, they can point out private newsletters and sermons that are quietly circulated. In addition, Gregory contends that monitoring Weibo and other Chinese social media sites can give a fuller picture of what is happening in China. While posts can be taken down quickly, people are still posting and sharing their experiences.
Listening in the Quietness
Sometimes there is as much to learn in quiet as there is in words. Jerry An, of our partner ReFrame Ministries, writes about the noticeable silence of his first trip back to China in four years. The quiet could be due to the many electric vehicles or the result of political repression. At the same time, quiet also represents a time of growth. Pastor An believes that the Chinese church is in a phase of maturity. Pastors and believers are less interested in large conferences and more interested in deepening their spiritual life. In this silence, believers outside of China can also learn to look more deeply into their own lives.
When Less Is More
ChinaSource founder Brent Fulton closes our series by discussing several of the most important threads running through the posts. While each contributor highlighted the difficulty of learning about China from ordinary news channels, Dr. Fulton reiterates E. F. Gregory’s emphasis on the importance of personal relationships. Though the church in China is “walled off,” as he says, we can still develop new relationship channels which will keep our hearts open to what God is doing in China and how he is calling us to serve alongside our brothers and sisters.
Epilogue and Further Reading
ChinaSource is richly blessed in our friendships with believers around the world, especially those in China. Despite the challenges of the current situation, many are willing to share their experience with us in our publications. To round out this look back through the archives, here are three articles, each on written by a Chinese believer, giving a deeply personal view of the state of the Chinese church.
The Next Decade of the Church in China
Pastor Jonathan Li writes about his belief that the church in China is entering a “bottleneck” period and that it should focus internally, especially on nurturing and developing talented people within the church to continue the mission.
Homeward Bound: A Christian’s Return to China
Rex Chen, who has recently returned to China after studying in the US, issues a challenge to Chinese believers overseas: “From a spiritual perspective, China is like a dried-up pond, and I hope more people will come to serve in China, as it urgently needs your help. I am waiting for your arrival here.”
Resilience and Renewal
Believers in Hong Kong are making big adjustments to their practice of faith. Pastor Leo Kwan describes the creative ways that Christians are sharing their faith, beyond the typical church building or structure. This article is very hopeful and inspiring, showing us again the resilience of believers in Hong Kong and China and the many ways God works, no matter what politicians decree.
Image credit: ChinaSource Team.
Rachel Anderson
Rachel Anderson serves as the Assistant Content Manager at ChinaSource. Though she has never been to China, her ancestors were missionaries in East Asia and passed on a deep love and respect for those cultures. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their five delightful children. View Full Bio
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