Foreword:
Twenty years ago, China's rapidly growing cities were becoming home to a new generation of Christians. Urban churches were emerging, young believers were exploring new ways of living out their faith, and church leaders were imagining what ministry might look like in a changing society.
Two decades later, much has changed. Our Featured Story, "To Our Youth: Reflections on Twenty Years of China’s Urban Churches," looks back at this period through the author's own journey from a religious studies doctoral student to an independent scholar, reflecting on the experiences and aspirations of Christian youth in Beijing.
We also revisit two old pieces, exploring the changing landscape of China's urban churches, from advocacy on the continuation of vibrant urban church planting to the ways urban churches are supporting struggling rural congregations.
Beyond urban churches, we feature three conversations that explore the church in China’s wider global connections. Godfrey Yogarajah, Chair of the World Evangelical Alliance and its Ambassador for Religious Freedom, discusses international advocacy and local agency; Matan Zamir, Israel's new Consul General in Shanghai, reflects on Jewish-Christian relations and building bridges between China and Israel. We also share a World Council of Churches interview with Amity Printing Press and Amity Foundation on innovative approaches to Bible distribution.
We also look back at a series of commemorative activities in Hangzhou marking the 150th anniversary of John Leighton Stuart, an American missionary, educator, and the first president of Yenching University. Through reflecting on Stuart's legacy, the events also explore what it takes to build bridges between different cultures.
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"Is Christianity still growing in China, or has it begun to decline or even shrink?" The 2023 Pew Research shows that Christianity seems to have stagnated since 2010; as a result, Chinese churches can continue urban church planting to maintain revival and vitality.
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As urbanization accelerates in China, rural churches are witnessing a decline in attendance and financial support, with younger generations migrating to cities. Urban churches are stepping in to offer help to sustain and revitalize these struggling rural congregations.
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In this interview, Godfrey Yogarajah discusses when churches should seek international assistance, who should decide whether a case goes public, and how advocates can support local believers without taking over their story.
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Matan Zamir, Israel’s new consul general in Shanghai, arrived in the city in August for a four-year posting. A ninth-generation resident of Jerusalem’s Old City, he has spent much of his life and career engaging with people from different religious and cultural backgrounds.
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Organized by Olive Bridge, a cross-cultural research and dialogue platform, the event was titled "The Bridge Endures—John Leighton Stuart at 150: A Commemorative Gathering of Historical Readings and Dialogue." It served as the central event in a series of commemorative activities held in Hangzhou from April through June.
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In 2025, Amity Printing Press and Amity Foundation marked the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and Amity Foundation's 40th anniversary. In this interview, they reflect on their ongoing work and innovative technologies to make the Bible more accessible to people around the world.
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China Christian Daily seeks to tell the story of the church in China while connecting it with conversations and developments in the wider Christian world. We welcome your articles, inquiries, invitations to attend conferences and events, and ideas for collaboration. Please feel free to reach out to us.
Please pray for us for God-given wisdom, discernment, and gifts as we seek to serve amid the current situation and walk alongside the church in China. Pray that we may be a blessing and a bridge, and that our staff will remain humble, alert, and faithful to the work entrusted to us.
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