On July 8, the Fifth Global Chinese Mission Conference, themed “Discipleship and Opportunities for Elderly Chinese Christians in the 21st Century,” was held online. The keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Kaofang Yeh, addressed the opportunities, motivations, and emerging prospects for discipleship among older adults.

In a world marked by rapid change, social upheaval, and growing secularization, the call to authentic discipleship remains vital. Right in the middle of the Decade of Disciple making (2020-2030), the WEA continues to emphasize disciple making as core to being followers of Christ.

Pastor Mark Chan, a Malaysian Chinese pastor serving across Southeast Asia shares his journey from inherited faith to a personal calling. Speaking about the spiritual challenges faced by believers in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, he emphasizes the urgent need to teach the full message of salvation and to call Christians into a life of true discipleship.

With a clear and urgent call to renew commitment to discipleship amid a rapidly changing global landscape, the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF) officially opened Wednesday in Seoul, South Korea.

“If today’s Christians do not contend with Satan for souls, their children will be shepherded by the secular world, and the next generation will be discipled by mobile phones,” a church pastor warned.

Amid growing concerns over a lack of discipleship in the global Church and the inability to keep pace with shifting demographics, Bishop Efraim Tendero, executive director of the Galilean Movement and former secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance, convened a gathering of U.S.-based and international church and ministry leaders at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, from March 25–26.

In contrast to the dilemma faced by churches, Pastor Zhao, who has served in a city in eastern China for years, is now facing the "trouble of happiness" - he is overwhelmed by an abundance of young people eager to serve full-time in ministry—so much so that he has had to turn some away.

Terry Parkman, a NextGen pastor at River Valley Church in Minneapolis, works primarily with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. He and his wife Christina are raising two daughters. Drawing from his personal experience, Parkman encourages parents to take responsibility for discipling their children, emphasizing that parents need to "be the church they go to."

Terry Parkman, NextGen pastor at River Valley Church, shared insights on how the church can effectively reach and disciple Gen Z and Gen Alpha in an interview with China Christian Daily. He emphasized the importance of tailored discipleship, biblical literacy, and cultural discernment in helping these digital generations navigate their faith in today’s rapidly changing world.

Small groups and discipleship training are increasingly valued in churches. To strengthen these ministries, pastors in charge often adopt materials from various churches and institutions to facilitate growth. However, pastors have diverse perspectives on the training materials they use, shaped by their specific contexts. Three frontline pastors gave their views on the contextualization of training materials to the Christian Times.