Large Churches in the U.S. host various conferences each year, the Gospel Coalition has a national conference every other year, each major denomination in America has annual assemblies and business meetings, but for the house churches in China, these types of gatherings are impossible due to political and security reasons.  However, our brothers and sisters […]

Up until April 2023, with a population of 1.4 billion people, China was known to be the most populous country in the world. Its high population was the main concern behind the famous one-child-policy. In recent years, however, birth rates in China have dropped significantly, leading the Chinese government not only to abolish the one-child-policy, […]

A month ago, we discussed a few major stumbling blocks that made it difficult for Chinese people to come to faith in Jesus. This month, we want to take you to the other side of this topic.  What are some of the biggest opportunities for Christianity in China?  As we said a few episodes ago, we […]

Ever since Christianity entered China, it has encountered many stumbling blocks: language barriers, clash of civilizations, foreign distrust, internal persecution. Jesus says in Matthew 11, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” The mission to expand the Kingdom of […]

With globalization, we can find the comforts of home almost anywhere in the world. Starbucks are everywhere, you can always get a Big Mac when you get tired of eating strange food overseas, and most people know Kentucky Fried Chickens even though they can’t find Kentucky on a map. But the world is not always […]

China is a big country, with almost 1.5 billion people.  We can say one thing and it will be true for a lot of people, but we can say the exact opposite and it will be true for a lot of people as well.  We want to take some time each month to dive into […]

On this bonus episode, we’re pleased to be joined by Dr. Kelly Kapic and Dr. Michael Rhodes to discuss why mercy ministry is important and to reflect on mercy ministry in the Chinese context. Join us for this special discussion as we close out the season!

Why care for the marginalized when you yourselves are marginalized? In our final episode of season 3, several house church Christians reflect on the theology of mercy. Though they themselves are being persecuted, these Christians are reaching out to the poor, the sick, and the rejected. What compels them to do this? Why take the […]

In China, death is a taboo subject. People who are hospitalized are often avoided or shunned. But in one Chinese city, two house church pastors are showing Christ’s mercy to those who are severely sick or dying. It is a ministry of hospice, but also a ministry of presence, spending time singing with sick patients, […]

Hosts Hannah and Ryan talk about our views of illness and death in Chinese and American cultures, and why the ministry of presence is such a powerful witness to Christ. Join us as we discuss and contextualize what we’re learning from the house church in China.