The Lantern

Mid-Year Update from ChinaSource


As we enter the summer season with time for pause and reflection, we are thankful for a fruitful year so far. God has graciously guided the ministry to new opportunities as well as enabled progress in the ongoing work he has put before us.

Especially in light of the changes taking place in China that will affect future ministry, please continue to lift up our upcoming projects as well as the ChinaSource team in your prayers.

Together for his glory in China,

Brent Fulton
President

We would like to provide you with an update on how we have seen the Lord at work in our midst as well as invite you to support our ongoing and upcoming projects. Highlights to date include:

  • In January we teamed up with Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, MI for a seminar with 27 pastors and Christian intellectuals from China, plus Christian scholars from around the United States representing a variety of disciplines.
  • In April we launched The ChinaSource Institute, a platform which will allow us to provide consulting and training services to churches, agencies, and other groups engaged in China. The first offering is an online course called  “Serving Well in China,” hosted on the Udemy learning platform. More than 1,100 students have enrolled to date.
  • Brent Fulton’s article, “China Reveals What It Wants to Do with Christianity,” was featured in Christianity Today in late April.
  • Through the Faith and Generosity in China Initiative we participated in two training events for leaders of Chinese churches, businesses, and local nonprofit organizations.
  • Through the Mentoring Initiative we conducted a weeklong spiritual retreat for Christian leaders from two Chinese cities who serve among the marginalized, as well as two coach training events. A quarterly coaches fellowship continues meeting in Hong Kong.
  • Our overall readership has grown more than 40% since the year began. We are encouraged that readers are interacting with our content and continue to find it a valuable resource.

With the Chinese government seeking greater control of religion, and with the recent passage of a new law on the activities of foreign NGOs in China, we know that ministry in the days ahead will likely be anything but “business as usual.” The changes that will come from the government to implement this new law will impact all of us to some degree. Though the details are not yet clear, it is not too soon to begin thinking about the future of ministry in China. As part of the China-ministry community, now is the time for conversation.

In addition to monitoring these developments through our various publications, we are also teaming up with several other organizations on a long-term joint research project that looks at future partnership between the church in China and the global church.

As we pursue the projects mentioned above, we invite you to consider a special gift toward one or more of the following needs:

  • The “Good and Faithful Steward,” an indigenously run web and social media platform, is delivering quality material to tens of thousands of believers in China each week as part of the Faith and Generosity in China Initiative.  Producing and marketing this project for the next nine months will require US$15,000.
  • Keeping the China ministry community informed through our ChinaSource Conversations podcast series will cost US$2,000 over the next six months
  • Producing the next ChinaSource Institute online course will require US$3,500.
  • Chinese Church Voices provides a weekly sampling of the issues Christians are discussing online in China. Translating and editing this valuable resource costs US$350 per issue.

Donations can be made online or by contacting info@chinasource.org. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

News and Notes

  • Hannah Lau spoke at Hong Kong International School on May 31.
  • Brent Fulton talked about Chinese church development on June 4 at a seminar hosted by Gospel Community Church in Hong Kong.
  • Also on June 4, Hannah Lau spoke to the young adult ministry at The Vine Church in Hong Kong.
  • Joann Pittman conducted a China training session for PLIES on June 7 in South Bend, IN.
  • On June 15 Joann Pittman provided a China briefing at Valspar Paint in Minneapolis.
  • Brent Fulton participated in an online discussion about his bookChina’s Urban Christians: A Light that Cannot be Hidden. (Registration required to view)
  • Brent Fulton preaches at Missoula Alliance Church in Missoula, Montana on June 26.

Ways to Pray

  • We have just finished recording the second ChinaSource Institute online course,—“The Church in China Today.” Pray that this course will be a blessing to many as it is launched this summer.
  • Lift up members of the ChinaSource team as they take time this summer for rest and for visits with family. May they find refreshment in the Lord.
  • Continue to lift up preparations for Changing China, Global Collaboration, a conference for North American and Chinese Christian leaders to be held in October.
  • Remember the financial needs of ChinaSource as we head into the summer months.

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ChinaSource Team

ChinaSource Team

Written, translated, or edited by members of the ChinaSource staff.          View Full Bio


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