March is women’s month, and we have been blessed to hear from several different women this month. Joy Cheng and Dorcas Du discussed different ways that women find their identity in Christ, while Amy Young reflected on her experience as a foreign woman in China and compared that experience to being a woman in North America. Finally, we heard from Sarah, who is doing outreach among women in China who have been trafficked in the sex trade. While each blog post was unique, they all shared an emphasis on how God works through the lives of women.
Today, we’re looking back at other blog posts, book reviews, and Quarterly articles published over the years that focus on the experiences of women in China.
Issues Involving Women
CSQ Summer 2002
This issue of CSQ does an excellent job of showing the ways that the lives of Chinese women have been impacted by the Communist Revolution and then the reform and opening up period. Every article is worth a careful read, and Brent Fulton’s editorial, “More than Half the Sky,” is an excellent introduction.
Transformation
by Nathan and Sue Lee, December 14, 2004
People who belong to the Dia, Yi, and Lisu people groups have historically worshipped spirits and been led spiritually by witch doctors. Through the 1950s, many gospel workers struggled to bring these people groups the freedom that comes in Jesus. Today, many people from this area are moving out of their remote villages and into larger cities looking for work, and this is becoming a new route for them to become Christians. Follow the paths of three young women as they embrace Christ and decide to go to Bible school.
Maybe It Doesn’t Take a Village
by Patrick Nachtigall, October 10, 2008
Globalization and opening up have radically changed the configuration of the Chinese family. Before that, the Communist Revolution profoundly changed every aspect of Chinese life, including the family and the role of women in society. This is one of the supporting articles from the autumn 2008 CSQ, called “Families in China,” which looks deeply at how multiple policies have turned the structure of the family upside down. Often, women have gained the most from the positive changes but also borne the brunt of the negative ones. “China’s Modern Family Problems,” by Huo Shui looks at issues with family structure from the perspective of a Chinese political analyst.
The Problem of Gender Imbalance in Chinese City Churches
by Lu Kun, May 29, 2011
In the first part of this post, Lu Kun addresses the issue of the gender imbalance in the Chinese church—women outnumber men by about 2 to 1. One main problem comes up for young women trying to find a husband who is a believer. However, there are other important issues that come up for the Chinese church, and Lu Kun examines them with care in part one. In part two, we get a look at some of the cultural background that contributes to difficulties for women in the church.
Into the Deep
by Veronica Wong, October 6, 2014
A counselor who has worked mentoring women shares the stories of three of her female mentees as they wrestle with the idea of “going deeper with Jesus.”
Domestic Abuse is Coming Your Way
by Amy B., July 1, 2016
The author discusses the delicate business of working with women who have been abused by their husbands. She organizes her narrative around the story of one woman who suffered at her husband’s hands. While discussing the many sensitive issues inherent in this woman’s plight, she also highlights changes in attitudes and the law toward domestic violence.
Providing a Refuge from the Red Light District
by ChinaSource Team, August 7, 2018
A woman who works with women who have been trafficked discusses how she and her team have been able to help 150 escape and build new lives in Christ. You can read about another project assisting these women in an article from 2015, “Starfish Project: An Opportunity to Get Involved.” This project is still going strong, and you can follow the links in the article to support their work.
Stories of Christian Women in China
by Andrea Klopper, April 13, 2020
Andrea Klopper reviews Li Ma’s book Christianity, Femininity and Social Change in Contemporary China. The book explores the experiences of women who have come to faith in contemporary China and the ways that Christianity has given them hope for the future. If this book interests you, be sure to read Hope Bentley’s review of Li Ma’s Christian Women and Modern China, which tells the stories of Chinese women who were deeply involved in Protestant mission work.
Women and the Missio Dei in China
CSQ Spring 2021
Chinese and foreign women who worked at sharing the gospel are the focus of this CSQ. Articles examine the contributions of women in the current era as well as those who came before. As in the earlier issue, Hope Bentley’s editorial is a good place to start to get oriented to the contents.
The Ministry of Women in the Chinese Church
by Brad Vaughn, April 26, 2021
Brad Vaughn responds to the spring 2021 CSQ with some helpful perspective and context and challenges readers to consider important questions around Christian women and their role in the church.
Acknowledging and Managing the Tension
by Amy Young, April 30, 2021
Amy Young’s response to the spring 2021 CSQ focuses on the tensions that women in China (both native and foreign) face when working in the Chinese church. She acknowledges that many tensions cannot be solved and offers a helpful lens for managing them.
Image credit: UnSplash+
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
Are you enjoying a cup of good coffee or fragrant tea while reading the latest ChinaSource post? Consider donating the cost of that “cuppa” to support our content so we can continue to serve you with the latest on Christianity in China.