Pastor Wang from Northwest China took a close look at the current challenges and circumstances surrounding theological education in China. In the past, Pastor Wang envisioned seminaries as places that would attract the most gifted and capable individuals, but he soon discovered a different reality. Many seminary students were "the ones left behind"—those who struggled academically, ethnic minority youth, and even troubled teens.

On July 8, the Fifth Global Chinese Mission Conference, themed “Discipleship and Opportunities for Elderly Chinese Christians in the 21st Century,” was held online. The keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Kaofang Yeh, addressed the opportunities, motivations, and emerging prospects for discipleship among older adults.

Now in his fifties, Pastor Hong has devoted the majority of his life to church ministry. Observing that many churches and believers today have lost the transformative power of truth, he has committed himself to restoring this foundation within the church, aiming to cultivate a truth-based church culture that will take generations to fully establish.

“In fact, God’s original and vital purpose for men is to sacrifice themselves for their wives and help them grow toward maturity.” He added, “If a wife cannot become a glorious wife, then the family cannot become a godly family. This is absolute, because it is by God’s design. The influence of a wife and mother on a family is profound.”

While many believe that the challenge lies with the younger generation, Brother Joshua, a pastor serving in an urban church in southern China, holds that the disruption in faith transmission within the Chinese church began with the middle-aged generation and is more apparent and common among the youth.

As mental health issues rise across China, some pastors are rethinking the church’s approach to emotional and psychological struggles, advocating for basic psychological knowledge while warning against overreliance on it.

Through a ministry grounded in listening, empathy, and guidance, Pastor Li’s church has helped believers address many real-life challenges while also placing a strong emphasis on leading them back to faith. He emphasized that psychology is merely a tool, while the ultimate goal is to guide people to turn back to God.

To address this, local churches must strive to attract staff from other regions, which requires reforms and innovation to make the church appealing to non-local workers.

A retired pastor who served in full-time ministry for over four decades shared his insights on the issues arising during the development of churches in China, highlighting five common misunderstandings in Christian life.

Brother Wang, a seasoned pastor, believes that when pastors find it challenging to lead their congregations, that's when God steps in to lend a hand.