Tag: Spiritual Life
3 Questions: Spiritual Formation in China
In the final segment of the “Walking with Leaders” series on ChinaSource Conversations, our monthly podcast, we looked at the spiritual formation of leaders. One of our guests was John, an expat and trained coach whose14 years of service in Asia have included facilitating retreats and leading people through creative spiritual exercises.
Here John shares his thoughts on spiritual formation among Christian leaders in China.
Spiritual Formation
Walking with Leaders | Episode 4
In the fourth and final podcast in the “Walking with Leaders” series, we want to focus on the topic of spiritual formation—the big picture and landscape of ones journey to becoming more like Jesus. If coaching is about drawing out and mentoring is about pouring in, spiritual formation is the big picture of our relationship with God.
Waiting Is Better Than Trying to Jump over a Wall
Depending on the statistics you find, roughly 70% of the church in China is female. This leaves an obvious problem: In a nation where such a small percentage of males are Christian, where does this leave the young, unmarried Chinese woman? Aside from the obvious question of whether or not to marry an unbeliever, there are questions much more subtle and often overlooked regarding how one should see this issue in light of their walk with God. In this revealing article, published in the online magazine Territory, one millennial shares how a broken relationship led to a revelation of something much deeper that was amiss in her own life, and how things began to change once her eyes were opened.
The Spiritual Discipline of Perseverance
It is a very tricky thing to assess when it is time to leave a particular field of service or line of ministry.
Supporting Article
A Place to Grow in Faith:
The Challenge of Developing Sustainable Faith Formation Programs in China
Often missing in China is a regular opportunity for Chinese Catholics to grow in the knowledge of their faith in a structured setting. In recent years, however, there has been a gradual rise of home-grown initiatives and program models adopted from overseas that are starting to change this situation. Nevertheless, challenges remain and the author looks at a number of reasons (beyond the more obvious political challenges) why the deepening of faith has been difficult.
Resource Corner
Sacred Space 神圣的空间
Your daily prayer online 你的每日圣言在线
Resource Corner
Inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Sacred Spaces offers daily meditations on Holy Scripture and personal reflections aimed at helping us get in touch with God and experience his presence in our lives.
Book Reviews
When the Well Runs Dry:
Prayer beyond the Beginnings
A Book Review
After many years of devoted prayer and Christian living, we sometimes find it difficult to feel God’s presence. In our pursuit of a deeper prayer life, we often come up dry and wanting. Fr. Green provides an important understanding of prayer for many Christians who start to wonder why their prayers have begun to feel empty. Using the examples of some of the great mystics of the Christian tradition, he imparts to us some of their wisdom so we can better understand the journey of the interior life and the true call to faith in prayer that the Lord gives us.
Resource Corner
Recommended Resources:
Coaching, Mentoring and Spiritual Formation
The following resources were recommended by WWL participants as helpful in coaching, mentoring and spiritual formation.