You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14, NLT).
Warm Lenten, Holy Week, and Easter greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! This time of the year is such a transformational season of worship, promise, supreme sacrifice, renewal, and resurrection glory, when what the Apostle Paul called “most important”—the crucifixion, resurrection and appearance of Jesus Christ—took place (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).
Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus, the champion of our faith, endured the cross while despising the shame, because of the joy that was awaiting him. Now he sits at the right hand of the throne of God and it’s our turn, and great joy, to follow him and run our race in Christ, and by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.
All of us at ChinaSource are grateful for the privilege of following the Messiah in this often rugged, even painful season, because this is also an eternally consequential time; when opportunities abound for the Body of Christ to grow as one, while making disciples of the nations.
The Lord has called ChinaSource to follow him into this momentous opportunity, as Chinese brothers and sisters in the mainland and the diaspora, together with global Christ followers, are learning, growing, and teaming together; engaging in ministry that powerfully advances the kingdom of God.
By the end of this month alone, several ChinaSource colleagues will have traversed the globe to meet, collaborate, pray, and plan with individuals and gatherings of friends and partners, seeking unity in Christ as we go. We are already seeing God multiply the combined efforts of those he has called together.
Our New Teammate!
God is expanding the ministry of ChinaSource and providing called and equipped teammates in doing so. With thanks to all who have been praying with us during our search for the first ever ChinaSource Vice-President of Operations, I am thankful to announce that God has led us to the person he has called for the job! On May 1, Aaron Settle will join the ChinaSource team. Aaron and his family served in Southwest China for twelve years. He has extensive experience in areas vital to this role and we are looking forward to teaming and growing with him in the days ahead. We will soon hear from Aaron in this space and get better acquainted. For now, please pray that God will bless Aaron and the team from day one!
Global Day of Faith at Work—May 1
We’re excited that Aaron Settle’s first day at ChinaSource aligns with another milestone: the inaugural Global Day of Faith at Work (GDFW). Taking place on May 1, this initiative unites believers around the world to celebrate and affirm God’s presence in every workplace.
As ChinaSource continues exploring how Chinese Christians are bearing witness in the marketplace, we’re encouraged by global efforts like GDFW that affirm the sacredness of daily work and support Christians in living out their faith on the job. We hope you’ll join the worldwide prayer at 12:00 PM local time and explore ways to participate.
Assistant Content Manager: The Search is on!
We’re looking for a part-time Assistant Content Manager to join our team; someone who is passionate about China, the Chinese church, and the Great Commission. This is a great opportunity to make a real impact while working in a flexible, remote role, as part of a supportive team that’s informing the global church about critical issues facing the church and ministries in China, as well as by sparking collaborative partnerships between the global and Chinese church. If you’re interested, or know someone who might be, please refer to the ChinaSource Opportunities page.
May you know Christ’s resurrection and transforming presence and power this Easter!
Kerry Schottelkorb
President
Ways to Pray
Praise
- Praise the Lord with us that Aaron Settle will be the new ChinaSource Vice-President of Operations beginning May 1.
- Thank the Lord for the many ways the ChinaSource team is privileged to serve alongside our Chinese brothers and sisters this month!
- Praise the Lord for the vision God has given his church to start a kindergarten or school and, in so doing, create centers of gospel witness rooted in community. See Educating for the Kingdom: A Chinese Christian School’s Mission Abroad By Andrea Lee, April 14, 2025 (Show Link)
- Praise the Lord for the myriad of ways the Word of God is lovingly and powerfully integrated into Chinese culture, bearing fruit both in the land and in the lives of those with eyes to see and ears to hear. See Blessing as a Culturally Acceptable Theme for Outreach, By JI Yajie, April 04, 2025.
Prayer
- Please pray for Aaron Settle as he begins serving with ChinaSource on May 1. Pray that the ChinaSource team will be encouraging and welcoming, and that God will bless and favor Aaron in this important position.
- Please pray with us that our Lord will soon lead us to his choice for the next ChinaSource Assistant Content Manager. Please see the link for more details.
- Please pray for the ChinaSource team members this month as they serve, encourage, learn, equip, and lead in a variety of ways and gatherings; for God’s glory and the advance of his kingdom.
- Please pray for the leaders of the church in the mainland, as they seek God’s guidance and wisdom for the future of theological development in China; especially in focusing on “a genuinely Chinese way of theological education.” See Stories You May have Missed, By Brent Fulton, March 25, 2025.
- Please pray for Levi Wu, and others who are witnessing for Christ in China’s marketplace, that God “would grant wisdom and strength to lead more souls to salvation.” See A Journey of Faith: From Childhood Rituals to a Life of Passionate Evangelism, By Levi Wu, March 14, 2025.
News and Notes
ChinaSource Journal, 2025 Spring Issue
Sinicization, Chinafication, or Zhongguohua, guest editor Naomi Thurston, Jordan Wang.
For over a decade, ChinaSource Quarterly has been a trusted resource for insights into Christianity and religious policy in China. As we put the finishing touches on the Spring 2025 issue, we’re excited to share that we are returning to our original name—ChinaSource Journal!
This issue explores the Sinicization of Christianity, unpacking its historical roots, ideological implications, and contemporary debates. With contributions from leading scholars and experts, the journal examines how this evolving policy—driven by both state directives and grassroots religious dynamics—continues to shape the relationship between faith and politics in China.
To read this compelling issue of the ChinaSource Journal, go to Sinicization, Chinafication, or Zhongguohua.
Webinar Recording
China’s Earliest Christians: Who Were They and What Can We Learn From Them?
In case you missed the opportunity to join the webinar with Dr. Glen Thompson on March 20, the lecture was recorded.
In 1625, a great stone stele was discovered near modern-day Xi’an that told the story of a Christian presence in Tang Dynasty China during the 700s. The name given to their religion in this stele is Jingjiao (Luminous Teaching). Who were they and what did they believe? In this lecture, Dr. Thompson will introduce us to these early Christians and how their story can inform and inspire the work of the modern church in China. Dr. Glen Thompson is a Professor Emeritus at Asia Lutheran Seminary (Hong Kong). He is the author of Jingjiao: The Earliest Christian Church in China (2024), which was given an Award of Merit from Christianity Today as one of the top books of Christian history in 2024.
You can find the recorded webinar here.
ChinaSource Team News
- On Wednesday evening, May 7, Joann Pittman will facilitate a book club discussion for ERRChina. The book is “At the Edge of Empire: A Family’s Reckoning with China,” by NYT correspondent Edward Wong. Please go here for details and registration.
- From April 7 to 11, Brent Fulton represented ChinaSource at the Asia Member Care Network conference in Penang, Malaysia.
- On April 5, Andrea Lee and Joann Pittman hosted a small ChinaSource Connect event in Boston. Despite the heavy rain, and a baseball game at Fenway Stadium two blocks away, their time together was encouraging and holy as they heard from and prayed for a Chinese pastor in attendance, and a sister who has recently returned to the US after 30+ years serving in China.
- From April 3 to 5, Andrea Lee and Joann Pittman attended the East Asian Christianity Conference at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Hamilton, MA. Joann gave a talk, “The Church in China: It’s Complicated.”
- Brent Fulton’s article “Developments in Mission Sending from China” appeared in the April issue of Evangelical Missions Quarterly.
- Brent Fulton’s interview with Bruce Barron on Sinicization and the church in China was published on March 31st, and was republished by Evangelical Focus, a publication of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance.
- On March 30th, Brent Fulton preached at Home of Christ 6 Church in Newark, CA.
In Case You Missed It
A selection of recently published items:
- The Lausanne Movement and the Chinese Church, ChinaSource Blog (CCV), April 15.
- Educating for the Kingdom: A Chinese Christian School’s Mission Abroad, ChinaSource Blog, April 14.
- It Starts with “Nǐ Hǎo”, ChinaSource Blog, April 11.
- ZGBriefs, April 11.
- The Elusive Path to Religious Freedom, ChinaSource Blog, April 8.
- Planting Seeds of Faith, ChinaSource Blog, April 7.
- Blessing as a Culturally Acceptable Theme for Outreach, ChinaSource Blog, April 4.
- ZGBriefs, April 3.
- Unbelievable but True, ChinaSource Blog, April 1.
- Prayer Resources—China Partnership, ChinaSource Blog, March 31.
- US-China Relations Over 20 Years, ChinaSource Blog, March 28.
- ZGBriefs, March 27.
- Stories You May Have Missed, ChinaSource Blog, March 25.
- Who Are Our Ninevites?, ChinaSource Blog, March 21.
- ZGBriefs, March 20.
Image credit: Polina Kuzovkova via Unsplash
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