Since the reform and opening-up period, Chinese Christianity has undergone a journey from restoration to development and then revival. The implementation of the new "Regulations on Religious Affairs" in 2018, combined with factors such as the latter stage of urbanization, marked the beginning of a new phase of transformation for churches in China. The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022 further intensified the need for this shift.
By 2023, the first full year of recovery after three years of pandemic disruption, churches began regaining momentum, with in-person gatherings and various ministries becoming active again. In 2024, Chinese Christianity continued along this trajectory of transformation, with its development trends and challenges becoming more apparent.
According to Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper, two major challenges stand out: the crisis of leadership succession and the mixed ethical practices in the business sector, as some churches and believers increasingly engage in commerce.
Crisis of Succession
The leadership expert John C. Maxwell said, “Success without a successor is a failure.”
One of the biggest challenges confronting churches in China today is the issue of leadership succession. Since the reform and opening-up era, the Chinese church has experienced recovery, and most leaders and pastors from that period have already passed on the baton. Urban churches, which were primarily led by individuals born in the 1960s, emerged around 2000. Many of these leaders are now also approaching the point of succession. Unfortunately, several once-thriving churches have experienced divisions, disintegration, or even decline due to poorly managed leadership transitions.
A pastor born in the 1970s observed, "The Chinese church has experienced nearly 40 years of development since the reform and opening up. The pastors who began their ministry in their 20s are now in their 60s after four decades. It is time for the Chinese church to reconsider the succession and inheritance of leadership between generations." He pointed out a phenomenon in churches where numerous pastors focus heavily on congregation size, membership growth, and small-group pastoral care while neglecting the “soft power” of church succession—training the next generation of leaders.
An increasing number of insightful pastors have realized the need to cultivate talent early on. They emphasize that the older generation must adopt a positive attitude for an honorable leadership transition. Pastor Chen from northern China cautioned, "Don’t wait until it’s time to hand over leadership to start looking for someone. You can't choose someone arbitrarily if the right person isn’t available. Moreover, leaders cannot be developed in just a day or two."
Apart from training successors for church leadership, passing on faith to the next generation has become a significant challenge for numerous churches and Christian families. Factors such as education involution, the rise of mental health issues, and the drifting away of second-generation believers have compounded this issue. Pastoral staff have noted a decline in youth ministries, college fellowships, and Sunday schools in recent years, leading to various emerging consequences and challenges. These all concern the inheritance of faith, requiring urgent attention.
"Ten or twenty years from now, will your children still be Christians? Will they fear God? Will they still attend church?" Pastor Cao Baoluo, serving an urban church in South China, reminded his congregants. Increasingly, Christian parents are realizing that they are the primary responsibility for teaching their children about faith, not the church. Sister Lu, a minister in East China serving in youth ministry, stressed that faith inheritance is not only the church's responsibility but also requires family involvement. Only through the joint efforts of the church and the family can the inheritance of faith be possible.
Some pastors have astutely noted that the challenges of passing on faith to the younger generation are just the beginning of the exposure of the issue. The gap in faith inheritance has, in fact, already begun within the middle-aged generation of Christians. For many in this group, faith has gradually become superficial rituals, with an external cover of religion but without an inner faith. Their belief remains in their heads but fails to be exemplified in their daily lives. Brother Joshua, a pastor from a southern church, emphasized that the inheritance crisis facing the Chinese church is far more serious than most realize. He warned that addressing this issue will require significant effort from everyone involved.
Mixed Good and Bad Practices in the Business Sector
Due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy has been in decline in recent years, which has affected the income of Christian communities. This, in turn, has impacted church income, indirectly worsening the financial situation of many frontline pastors and staff workers. Meeting basic needs, such as family support and children's education, has become increasingly difficult.
In this context, some churches have started recognizing the importance of engaging in business. They see this not only as a means for the church's survival and sustainable development but also as a way to promote missionary work. Consequently, some churches have ventured into commercial activities, and some Christians and pastors have begun exploring low-barrier sectors such as daily consumer products, micro-businesses, and health and wellness industries. While this is understandable given the practical needs, it has also led to a mix of good and bad practices in execution. For instance, some products being promoted are of questionable quality, while certain health programs claim to cure a wide range of illnesses. In more severe cases, churches have engaged in multi-level marketing or direct selling practices, leading to financial losses among believers and even church divisions.
Such issues are not limited to Christian communities. Over the past decade, industries like multi-level marketing, direct selling, micro-businesses, and health and wellness have been riddled with scams and deceit. As part of society, religious organizations are inevitably influenced by these trends.
It is a pressing challenge to properly manage the relationship between churches and businesses, particularly church and business maintaining both independence and a mutually supportive connection. Many churches also need to establish more comprehensive salary and welfare systems to better support frontline pastors and church workers in addressing their financial difficulties. Furthermore, the Chinese church must teach biblical truths about money and related matters. Believers' outdated perceptions need to be renewed—ideas such as equating poverty with spirituality, separating the sacred from the secular, or viewing money as inherently evil must be reformed. Correct financial principles, including the biblical perspective on money and one’s possessions, need to be taught. At the same time, Christians must remain vigilant, recognizing that money brings temptations and must be handled with caution.
- Edited by Katherine Guo, translated by Poppy Chan and Abigail Wu
