Here is the annual list of the favorite posts from the past year:
1. Top 10 Christian News Stories in China in 2016 (January 10, 2017)
China Christian Daily's Top 10 News Stories about Christians and Christianity in China, and 2016 Year in Review.
2. Have We Failed Returnee Christians? (Part 1) (February 28, 2017)
Brother Sang Shang, a returnee himself, highlights the difficulties returnee Christians face in an article on Gift of the Magi. He criticizes overseas churches for their “utilitarian” approach to evangelism that falls short in preparing Chinese for their return to China. He also notes how the Chinese church is ill-prepared to minister to these returnees.
2. Mourning Two Chinese Christians Killed in Pakistan (January 20, 2017)
As news and details come out, Chinese Christians continue to express their sympathies and ask questions about the event.
3. 20 Things a New Chinese Pastor Needs to Learn About Ministry (July 25, 2017)
In this article, Chen Fengsheng, a Three-Self pastor in Wenzhou, provides budding pastors with timely advice on how to prepare for a healthy pastoral ministry. He gives “twenty realities” of ministry life that will help set up fresh seminary graduates for the pastorate.
4. Three-Self Church Reflections on Revised Regulations (October 17, 2017)
Last month, Tianfeng Magazine, the official magazine of the China Christian Council (CCC) and Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), posted an article on their WeChat blog highlighting the impact of the regulations and why they are necessary.
5. Churches Prepare for New Regulations (October 3, 2017)
Some local Chinese churches have started to study the regulations in order to prepare for the changes. China Christian Daily provides insight on how some churches are readying themselves.
6. The Hardships of Pastoral Ministry in China (September 6, 2017)
In this article from Green Olive Books, the author highlights the difficulties of being a pastor in China, as well as the need for Chinese Christians to better support their pastors. The author, a layperson, provides one unique look into how Chinese Christians view their pastor.
7. Just Say "No!" (June 6 2017)|
In this blog post, originally posted by Oak Tree Publishing, Wei Chen shares the personal sacrifices she and her family have made in the face of secular values. She describes the troubling expectations of society on her and her family, and how her Christian faith pushed her to say “No!” to following along with the secular norms.
8. Another Perspective on Ministry with Returnee Chinese Christians (April 11, 2017)
John gives a different take on returnee ministry. He describes the complexities of this ministry, the positive impact the Western church has, and notes how the Chinese church can learn from Western Christians. He explains how everyone is still learning about this type of ministry.
9. Why You Don’t Need to Be a Communist to Serve the People (March 14, 2017)
Can Christians join the Communist Party? Should Christians join the Communist Party? These questions were posted online recently by a Chinese Christian on Zhihu, China’s version of Quora (a question and answer website). The questions sparked chatter among the online Christian community and also prompted a response from the official social media account of the Communist Youth League of China.
10. The Importance of the Gospel during Chinese New Year (January 24, 2017)
Christians are excited to celebrate with family and friends. But, they also experience instances when their Christian faith rubs up against cultural expectations.
What were your favorite posts?
Image credit: Holy Trinity Cathedral Shanghai, by Joann Pittman, via Flickr.
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