China-US Documentary 'Dear Kuliang' Premieres in Los Angeles, Highlighting Century of People-to-People Bonds

Loving the elderly does not require demanding perfection, nor does companionship need to conceal human weaknesses. When love is offered sincerely, they can experience God's presence and receive genuine joy and fulfillment through the nourishment of faith. This is the simplest yet most profound meaning of the church's Seniors' Day.

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.

Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen argued for a "world-embracing, multi-layered pneumatology" that extends the Holy Spirit's work beyond the church into all public domains. His lecture explored the Spirit's role in society, science, and other religions, advocating for a "post-critical" engagement with these spheres.

On the way home, the sunlight seemed especially radiant. I thought to myself, the next time someone asks why I’m joyful, I won’t just say, “Because I believe in Jesus.” I’ll tell them, “Because I know a Lord who died for me and rose again!” That is the source of my joy.