Celebration of Bible Day in China

In Pastor Chen’s view, the Charismatic movement gained rapid traction in the Chinese mainland—especially in rural areas—because it offered emotional immediacy, experiential spirituality, and a highly energized communal atmosphere. It broke through the rigid, formulaic patterns that characterized many traditional gatherings at the time.

Nowhere am I welcomed more warmly than in the very conservative, unregistered Baptist communities of Russia. This applies to both Siberia and Kaliningrad region. Shortly after arriving at a church, a brother usually approaches the guest and asks about their identity and origin. Since I am from a conservative Mennonite family, the doors open quickly. This immediate questioning is certainly also for security reasons and is not motivated solely by hospitality. However, the subsequent invitation to lunch reaches far beyond security concerns. For someone who has been socialised in a church environment, it is far more pleasant to be approached and questioned than to be ignored.

"For every person who has gone missing because of the Church of Almighty God, there is a corresponding family that has suffered as victims," said Li Rui (a pseudonym), who has endured years of pain as the child of the sect's followers.

The National Day holiday brought a pause to the daily routine. The community parking lot was largely empty, and the usual groups of grandparents and babies had vanished as many families traveled or returned home. The break offered Elena a rare chance to step away from the ordinary order of life—to pause, adjust, and reestablish balance.

Prof. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen delivered a lecture on the intersection of Christian eschatology and scientific cosmology. He contrasted the scientific prediction of the universe's eventual heat death with the theological hope for a divinely initiated new creation.

March 1, 2024, marks the 105th anniversary of the 1919 Independence Movement of Korea. On the eve of this occasion, I had the opportunity to travel to Korea with a few friends for a historical pilgrimage. I visited the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul and the History Museum of Korean Christians at Soongsil University.