Friday, August 29th, 2025
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Article by:Katherine Guo

Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata Calls for Renewed Prophetic Diakonia in a Polarised World

At Stockholm’s “Called to Transformation” event, Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mtata reflected on a century of ecumenical diakonia, from the 1925 Life and Work conference to today. He highlighted key milestones and called for authentic partnerships, local agency, and renewed theological grounding to address contemporary humanitarian, social, and environmental challenges.

Sweden Marks Centenary of 1925 Stockholm Conference: A Look Back at Ecumenical Roots

The Stockholm Conference of 1925, initiated by Archbishop Nathan Söderblom, served as a significant beginning for the modern ecumenical movement. Bishop Dr Jonas Jonson, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Strängnäs in the Church of Sweden, who has been actively involved in the life and work of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for more than 60 years, traced the history of how the WCC began decades before its official founding in 1948.

Chinese Influencer’s Video on Daesoon Jinrihoe Invites Discussion on Religious Regulation

On August 8, a popular Chinese content creator, Shipindao, with over eight million followers on the video platform Bilibili, released a video about the Korean new religious movement Daesoon Jinrihoe. The video has garnered over eight million views, sparking heated discussions online. In its conclusion, the creator raised thought-provoking questions about religious regulation.

Korean American Pastor: Building a Neighborhood Church Rooted in Diversity

Rev. Jin Park, a Korean American pastor, has served in four churches over the past 28 years. Thirteen years ago, he planted a new church in Los Angeles, seeking to build a community that stands apart from what he sees as the typical church model: serving the marginalized through the lens of decolonization and cultural diversity.

Sophie Newton: Pioneer Deaconess in Southern China, Grandmother to a Chinese Family

Robert and Linda Banks have spent the last 15 years researching the contributions of Australian women who lived and worked in China for nearly 50 years. They authored The Flower Mountain Quartet series, which includes four books on this topic. In an interview with China Christian Daily, they discussed their third book in the series, In the Province of the Dragon: A Pioneer Deaconess in Southern China from the Boxer Uprising to the Communist.
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