The Protestant churches of China have been growing like a new sprout breaking through the soil, well sown and well harvested, since the resumption of gatherings in the 1980s, but in recent years, this splendid original scene seems to have been shadowed, and church development appears to have reached a growth ceiling. I believe that eight unhealthy tendencies hinder church revival.

After decades under the guidance of a founding pastor, a church in northern China has embarked on a bold experiment in shared leadership. Moving away from a single-leader structure, it has introduced a “Three-Role Division” model that distributes authority among three teams—the Administration, Pastoral Ministry, and Overseers.

Building a Three-Self church from the ground up may appear cumbersome, but the process can be summarized in four essential steps: people → venue → system → registration. While neither quick nor easy, this path ensures the church’s stability, legality, and long-term sustainability.

Whether to ordain bishops has long stirred debate within the Chinese church, reflecting its historical legacy and its search for identity in a post-denominational era.

In East China, a township church revived through small groups while a city church overcame resistance to reforms. Both found growth and vitality by prioritizing unity among co-workers over programs.

Christian chat groups offer convenience, but overreliance can foster superficial faith and empty formalism. Believers are urged to focus on Scripture, simplify online engagement, and return to true fellowship to nurture genuine spiritual growth.

On September 13, 2025, at HKSKH All Saints' Cathedral, a conference on "The Unfinished Business of Nicaea" featured a keynote by Professor Volker Henning Drecoll, who argued that the popular understanding of the Nicene Creed's origin as a simple fight against "Arianism" is a historical distortion, largely crafted by Athanasius for theological and political ends.

To stem the loss of co-workers, churches must break free from rigid thinking, establish fair and transparent support systems, foster relationships rooted in mutual love and support, recognize the value of every co-worker, and provide space and hope for growth. Ultimately, the vitality of a church is not measured by its buildings but by the people willing to dedicate themselves. Retaining them is essential to securing the future of rural churches.

Pastor X from a church in East China emphasized that clear ordination standards are essential for standardized management and reflect the inevitable direction of the church's institutional development. However, he noted that the essence of being a true shepherd lies in a mature spiritual life, a firm calling to ministry, and genuine recognition from both the church and the congregation.

For married preachers, the way to balance family and ministry is not found in perfect time management or choosing one over the other. Rather, it lies in the daily affirmation of this truth: Who is truly the head of the family and the church? When both the altar and the dining table become places of worship, faith can transform the seeming dilemma into the two wings that carry us together on the path to heaven.