After experiencing the quiet of low attendance and the quiet of “no photos,” I experienced a third kind of quiet during the Christmas Day service: my anxious and lost heart finally found quietness within the Word of God.

In a century-old church marked by weathered walls and living faith, crowded Sunday services stand in contrast to the challenges many congregations face today, decades after foreign missionaries sowed the first seeds.

After experiencing Christ’s healing from a strange illness, Pastor Li Qingzhen devoted herself to ministry in Xinjiang, where she has served for sixty years, offering spiritual shelter and guidance to generations of believers.

On September 14, the Holy Light Church in Jiangning District, Nanjing, held a baptism ceremony during the Sunday service, administering the sprinkling rite to 13 sisters and 1 brother. Immediately after the baptism, the church proceeded with the Holy Communion.

Pastor Huang, a cultural bridge-builder, has reached beyond religious boundaries by organizing dialogues between Christians, Muslims, Confucians, Taoists, and atheists, seeking to dispel misunderstandings and build trust.

After retiring from decades of church leadership, Pastor Liang, now in his 70s, remains active in ministry. In an interview, he shares how he adjusted his mindset, avoided rivalry, and found freedom in continuing to serve without position.

The church steeple seems to echo an eternal call, yet closed doors keep both curious passersby and distant believers from crossing the threshold. Should a church’s doors remain closed or open? Three different encounters have offered me two different answers.

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.

It was at the beginning of the twentieth century, on one of the streets in Henan Province, that a foreign missionary was preaching the gospel passionately before a large table. He was surrounded by listeners who were skeptical and disdainful. Also, among the crowd was the young proprietor of a rich local family. To the young man's surprise, his life trajectory changed drastically because of the foreign missionary.

On April 16, Holy Wednesday of this year's Passion Week, Wuxi International Church commemorated the day with a Taizé prayer service.