Friday, August 29th, 2025
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Article by:Li Daonan

Quanzhou: Coexistence of Different Religions

Quanzhou is the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road and the southern gateway for the introduction of religions to China. Thus, in the old Quanzhou, onw will see religious sites: Buddhist temples, Taoist shrines, General Guanyu's temples, or Christian churches.

A Paradigm Shift: How Can the Church Help People Truly Become Themselves?

Without external environmental crises, the traditional Christian model, a model of responding to suffering, can no longer meet the needs of the generation born since the 1990s. They are searching for meaning in life, personal value, and goals worth pursuing, things the traditional church model cannot provide at all.

Recalling the Twenty Years of 'Great Church Ideals'

The church's urbanization development spanned twenty years following China's entry into the WTO. These were also the years when the church's great ideals became widely embraced. This was a defining characteristic of that era, and it reflected the aspirations of the time. Today, it is rare to hear talk of grand gospel plans, and believers with such lofty ideals are few and far between.

How to Pass the Gospel to the Next Generation?

The best way to spread the gospel is not through exam questions or forcing children to memorize key points. Jesus took his disciples into the people; he moved from place to place, responding to people’s needs.

Churches Should Reach Unbelievers With Respect

From the urgency of spreading the gospel, we can see the church’s anxiety about reaching unbelievers. The more the people reject, the stronger the anxiety of traditional churches becomes, which prompts them to more urgently evangelize to non-Christians.

Young Believers Need to Be Heard

Regardless of whether young people are believers or non-believers, they don't need high-and-mighty preaching and advice; they need listeners who can sit down to hear their stories and provide advice to address their anxieties.

Seeing Luck and Destiny in Contrast to Bustling Temples With Desolate Churches

The liveliest places during this Spring Festival, aside from tourist attractions, are temples and God of Wealth temples. The expectation for the God of Wealth and good fortune far outweighs the desire to celebrate the Spring Festival joyfully. People seek help from deities in the hope of improving their economic income for the coming year.
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