Change and Continuity: Historical Shaping in Contemporary Wenzhou Protestantism, authored by Dr. Ni Bu-xiao, assistant professor of theology and associate director of the Christianity & Chinese Culture Research Centre (CCCRC) at Alliance Bible Seminary, will be published by the CCCRC in September 2025.
According to Chinese Christian Studies, the book explores the historical transformations and faith construction of Christianity in Wenzhou, China's Jerusalem, amid China's social and political changes since the 20th century. From the withdrawal of Western missionaries to the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, and from the Maoist reigning era's "house gatherings" to the rapid growth following Reform and Opening-Up, Dr. Ni highlights how Wenzhou Christians have demonstrated resilience while shaping localized expressions of faith.
Beyond state-church relations, the study also examines Christianity's engagement with local society, contributing to religious revival in the region. Through fieldwork and documentary research, the book provides new insights into how Wenzhou Christians sustained their faith communities under pressure and formed distinctive practices, such as the "Praying Women (禱告婆)."
Leading scholars have praised the work. Professor Kevin Xiyi Yao of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary described it as raising Wenzhou Christian studies to a new level, combining rich first-hand materials with international academic perspectives. Professor Kenpa Chin of Fu Jen Catholic University noted that the book is not merely a local history but a study of Chinese Christianity as a whole.
With seven chapters and a concluding reflection, the book offers a significant contribution to understanding the dialectical relationship between change and continuity in contemporary Chinese Christianity.
