Easter 2025 has just passed. Based on interviews and travels, the editorial team of the Gospel Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, discussed their observations from Holy Week activities in various local churches. They identified several new trends emerging in the registered Chinese church.
New Trends of Holy Week Activities Across Regions
The trend of Holy Week in Beijing's churches was immersive experiences. In addition to their regular worship services, churches across different districts organized a variety of activities during the entire Passion Week and Easter. These included film screenings on Good Friday, the Taizé Community prayer services, and worship in Hebrew style. These diverse formats helped participants emotionally connect with the suffering Jesus endured for sinners and the joy of his resurrection.
Another notable aspect was the hosting of evangelistic meetings by many churches in Beijing. Several of these saw dozens of seekers making on-the-spot decisions to follow Christ. The sermon messages tended to reduce theological depth and exegesis, opting instead for more life-oriented perspectives to explain the personal significance of Jesus Christ's salvation and how the risen Lord can become a source of strength to restart one's life. Many pastors' sermons were in a highly compelling style.
Additionally, churches in Beijing featured special decorations and rituals during Holy Week worship services, and pastors offered theological interpretations of these elements during their sermons.
The prominent feature of Holy Week in Shanghai's churches was its strong liturgical character. The worship atmosphere was solemn and sacred, with well-decorated halls, choral hymns, and full liturgical elements, complemented by high-quality sermons focused on the themes of Passion Week and Easter. Scripture readings were immersive. During Good Friday responsive readings, the pastors assigned congregants to read in different roles: soldiers, Pilate, chief priests, and Jesus. Many believers read with a sobbing voice.
Churches in Guangdong Province began guiding believers into meditative preparation from the Lenten season, even before Holy Week. One church in Guangzhou emphasized tracking and supporting the spiritual practices of its members during Lent and used a PowerPoint presentation on Easter Sunday to help the congregation reflect on their Lenten journey, i.e., how faith was put into practice and how believers participated in Christ's resurrection.
During Holy Week, one pastor even mentioned plans for next year's Passion Week to lead believers up a mountain to collect thorns and then hand-weave them into crowns. The goal is to create a personal and tactile experience of the suffering Jesus endured for sinners.
Moreover, churches in Shenzhen and Guangzhou put significant efforts into biblical dramas. Several churches produced high-quality dramas during Holy Week and Easter, with some even inviting well-known directors to assist with scripting and directing. These plays aimed to attract a broader audience to enter the church and learn about the Christian faith.
Five churches in Central and northern Jiangsu Province placed special emphasis on Easter. One church in central Jiangsu held a solemn liturgical service on Good Friday. However, in other areas, the Holy Week atmosphere was less distinct, and the services felt like regular gatherings.
Churches in Zhejiang Province have traditionally taken the Passion Week and Easter seriously. This year, many churches across the province held more vibrant events than in previous years. There was a stronger emphasis on spiritual preparation during Lent. A significant number of churches led congregants through a "40-day spiritual journey" using devotional materials. During Holy Week, some large churches in Hangzhou and Ningbo organized an event named "Fourteen Stations of The Cross." Staff members carried life-sized wooden crosses through 14 spots, followed by congregants in a meditative procession, culminating in a candlelit confessional prayer.
In contrast, churches in Hubei Province kept their Holy Week activities relatively simple and low-key. Apart from a few that held foot-washing ceremonies and communion on fellowship days and Good Friday, most churches focused primarily on quiet meditation. Interestingly, believers there showed a high level of engagement with these meditations.
Grassroots churches in Shaanxi Province emphasized God's word more than anything else. During Holy Week, sermons focused deeply on the path Jesus walked during the passion. The content was profound and reflected the spiritual diligence of local pastors in preparing their messages. Congregants were visibly moved by the sermons. Many elderly believers wept as they listened during revival and prayer services.
Similarly, churches in Anhui Province prioritized the word over rituals or decor. Believers were highly enthusiastic about participating in gatherings. Many elderly members arrived at church as early as 5 a.m. for worship. One elderly pastor emphasized in his sermon that the church doesn't deliberately celebrate Easter because "every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday." In rural counties, churches organize fewer events while those in provincial capitals have relatively more varied programs.
Common Trends Behind Holy Week Activities
Evangelism emerged as a shared trend across regional churches this year. Typically, evangelistic fervor peaks around Christmas, but this year, many grassroots churches experimented with richer and more diverse formats to attract newcomers and seekers during Easter.
Through the series of Holy Week worship events, grassroots churches in China showed subtle progress in theological depth. From incorporating liturgical elements into local churches to theological interpretation and spiritual exhortation rooted in Scripture and the church calendar, it is evident that theological education is becoming more widespread and deeper in these communities. A new generation of pastors and church workers, who have received theological training, are increasingly taking leadership roles, helping grassroots churches face the challenges of secularization with a firmer grounding in biblical truth. Most churches are also trying to strip away superficial, ornamental elements and return to a more authentic focus on the Word.
What Can Still Be Improved?
While evangelism is emphasized, equipping and training frontline ministry workers remain an area for improvement. At one evangelistic rally for newcomers or seekers, although the welcoming staff were warm and friendly, their method of introducing the gospel to younger seekers came across as somewhat rigid and mechanical. For instance, a volunteer sister began sharing information with a young first-time visitor without any initial conversation. The girl eventually became visibly uncomfortable; it was later discovered that she was already a Christian visiting from another city.
In another instance, a reporter visited a church affected by cult activity. Because the visitor was from outside the community, the church staff mistook them for a member of a heretical group, leading to a minor misunderstanding.
Originally published by the Gospel Times
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Charlie Li
