During the joyous celebration of the Chinese New Year and the return to their hometowns, the editorial team of the Gospel Times had the opportunity to connect with grassroots churches. They discussed the changes observed in hometown churches during the grand festival.
During the Chinese New Year, famous landmark churches were crowded with tourists in some places, which can serve an opportunity to reach non-Christians.
Churches in China marked the Spring Festival in diverse forms, such as a retreat, artistic performances, New Year's Eve dinner, praise meetings, and Spring Festival fellowship.
On the first Sunday after the lunar new year, I visited a rural church which can accommodate 100 people at least, but there were only 11 people attending the service.
Cruel historical memory makes us tend to yearn for material possessions. In the practice of the Christian faith, we have constantly materialized Jesus. We have shaped the image of Jesus and the gospel according to our national memory of suffering.