Luo, a pastor serving in an urban church in western China, has encountered many Christians who appear outwardly mature but lack spiritual growth. Often unwilling to take responsibility, he describes them as 'spiritual giant babies.' To address this, he has explored various approaches to help them "grow up."

Terry Parkman landed in China for the first time to adopt his first daughter. In October 2019, just before the COVID-19 lockdown, he and his wife Christina returned to adopt their second daughter. The couple’s commitment to adoption is rooted in God’s calling and their submission to Scripture.

Terry Parkman, a NextGen pastor at River Valley Church in Minneapolis, works primarily with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. He and his wife Christina are raising two daughters. Drawing from his personal experience, Parkman encourages parents to take responsibility for discipling their children, emphasizing that parents need to "be the church they go to."

Anxiety is a universal human emotion that arises when we, as finite beings, are confronted with the infinite and uncertain. Philosophically, anxiety is an essential state of human existence. The Bible also addresses anxiety extensively, acknowledging its universality while urging us not to let it dominate our daily lives, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Scripture also teaches that trusting in God can help us overcome anxiety: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

The modern era, marked by multiculturalism, postmodernism, and the rise of the Internet, has brought deconstruction across fields. Churches face tensions between tradition and modernity, as well as generational divides, with few solutions in sight. A pastor shares how his conservative church journeys toward openness.

Healthy, thriving churches, even in challenging times, share a common trait—a well-functioning ecosystem. In this system, the church provides pastors with holistic support for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, while pastors focus on shepherding and delivering quality spiritual nourishment, creating a mutually reinforcing cycle.

Pastor Hu, director of an urban church in southeastern China, called by God at an early age, endures over 30 years of experience in pulpit ministry. He shared valuable insights from his practices with a heart for cultivating young ministers.

Small groups and discipleship training are increasingly valued in churches. To strengthen these ministries, pastors in charge often adopt materials from various churches and institutions to facilitate growth. However, pastors have diverse perspectives on the training materials they use, shaped by their specific contexts. Three frontline pastors gave their views on the contextualization of training materials to the Christian Times.

With international adoptions largely halted (except in special circumstances), what will happen to orphans who remain unadopted? In response to this question, Brother Fan, a leader of a related ministry in southern China, believes that many Chinese people, including Christians, have long harbored deep misunderstandings about adoption. He asserts that the church has a responsibility to promote an adoption culture among believers.

Pastor A Yue, in her 40s, has served in a northern city far from her hometown for over a decade. From theological training, and youth fellowship, to a “pioneering church”, her ministry follows the needs of young believers she cares about and reflects areas where churches in China need to grow.