From AI-powered ministry to the resilience of Tibet's Catholic community, this month's stories explore how Christians are responding to a changing world while remaining rooted in faith.

This month, we offer you a featured article about reconstructing the contextual narrative in postmodern pastoral care. It reflects on a common concern among grassroots pastors and ministers: despite great efforts in preaching, training, and church management, many believers still feel spiritually directionless. Addressing postmodern struggles such as isolation and meaninglessness in urban life, the article explores how the Four Gospels offer models for contextualized pastoral care by presenting Jesus' message in ways suited to different audiences.

This month, we remember the life and legacy of Joseph Tong, a pioneering theologian and educator whose influence has deeply shaped theological education for the Chinese church worldwide. Born in Fujian Province in 1941 and later migrating to Indonesia with the family, Rev. Tong was one of the four brothers among the "Five Tong Brothers" who devoted themselves to ministry. He authored the books Foundations of the Christian Faith and Theological Reflection and Reconstruction of Faith, which have become essential reference books for many local pastors.

This month, we invite you to journey with us across time and geography. We explore the historical footprints left by Norwegian and Danish missionaries—legacies of service that continue to shape local communities a century later. We also look at the modern complexities of faith in the public square, from the legal challenges of preserving heritage sites in Tianjin to the quiet, persistent revival work being led by theology graduates in China’s rural heartlands.

Alongside our ongoing news coverage and featured columns, we are introducing more non-news content this year. Through interviews, personal stories, and reflective pieces, we hope to offer you deeper insights into the life, faith, and witness of the church in China beyond the headlines.

This December, Christmas once again becomes a moment when faith, culture, and public life intersect in visible and meaningful ways across China. While Christmas is not a public holiday, churches throughout the country marked the season with worship services, choirs, performances, and community outreach—often drawing the largest congregations of the year. From Beijing to Shanghai, Ningbo to Inner Mongolia, congregations gathered in multiple Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, responding to the spiritual hunger of both believers and seekers.

This November, the World Council of Churches (WCC) convened its executive committee meeting in China — the first time since 2016 — hosted by the China Christian Council and National Committee of Three‑Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Church in China (CCC&TSPM). The six-day gathering (November 20–25) unfolded under the theme “Christ, Culture, and Context”, blending formal business with pilgrimage encounters throughout Hangzhou. Apart from the conference, the delegation also visited Nanjing and Shanghai to meet church leaders, ministry heads, and officials.

This October brought two major global Christian gatherings that highlighted how unity and mission are shaping the future of the worldwide church. In Egypt, the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order renewed the vision of visible Christian unity through the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, inviting churches to deepen fellowship across traditions. Meanwhile, the 14th World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly refocused the global evangelical movement on its core missionary calling: “The Gospel for Everyone by 2033.” Evangelical leaders urged churches to recover evangelistic passion and prepare for a decisive decade of witness.

On September 16, the National Religious Affairs Administration issued the "Code of Conduct for Religious Clerical Personnel in Cyberspace," the first official guideline regulating how religious professionals engage online since the 2017 revision of religious affairs regulations and the 2021 release of the "Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services." The 18-article Code addresses “real problems” such as extremist remarks, commercialization through livestreaming, and fraudulent fundraising. Following its release, some Three-Self pastors have deleted past WeChat posts and turned to writing about church history or personal reflections, though most Christian accounts remain unaffected. How faith communities will adapt—or face tighter controls—remains uncertain.

The Chinese church is never alone. Founded by foreign missionaries, the church in China is an integral part of the body in Christ. Through onsite gatherings and online conferences, Christians in China are renewed and strengthened through reflecting on the Lord's command of loving one another and preaching the gospel unto the end of the world. This August, we highlight stories of unity and renewal—from an international forum on reconciliation held in Japan, to a mission conference shaping discipleship across generations, and diaspora missions inspired by Hudson Taylor’s legacy. These glimpses reveal how the church is being renewed in faith and witness, standing together in Christ.