What Motivated Islamic State’s Mosque Attack in Muscat? (March 25, 2025, The Jamestown Foundation)
The attack on Muscat’s Ali bin Abi Talib mosque puzzled many observers of the Middle East, as sectarian violence is nearly unknown in Oman, where most citizens, rather than being Sunni or Shi’ite, follow the relatively little-known and non-aggressive Ibadi school of Islam.
New documentary explores Sri Lanka’s Buddhist supremacy and minority communities (December 24, 2025, Global Voices)
Contested religious sites remain flashpoints of tensions between Sinhala and Tamil communities. The identification of certain sites as Sinhala Buddhist sacred sites has fuelled fears among minorities that their lands and religious practices are under threat.
Here's How 3 Southeast Asian Countries Celebrate Easter (April 15, 2025, Tempo English)
Here are the Easter rituals in three Southeast Asian countries- the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, reflecting their cultural richness.
Anti-Christian incidents in Israel rising: Spitting on clergy, damage to church properties (April 2, 2025, The Christian Post)
There were 111 attacks against Christians that the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue included in its annual report, titled “Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem.” The Rossing Center is an interreligious organization based in Jerusalem, which works to improve relationships between Christians, Jews and Muslims.
Sudanese flee war as Darfuri people encounter Jesus (April 15, 2025, Mission Network News)
As Sudan faces dual crises of war and famine, Sudanese continue to flee their country. Many seek refuge in nearby Egypt, Algeria, Uganda, South Sudan, or Chad. “Today, the church is flourishing among the Darfuri people: in Chad, in Egypt, and even in Southern Sudan…”
37 Years Ago, Billy Graham Came to China for the First Time (April 15, 2025, China Christian Daily)
Reflecting on the 17-day journey, Graham wrote, “In a span of seventeen days, covering two thousand miles and five major cities, we packed in more speaking and preaching engagements, interviews, social events, and even sightseeing than I remembered from any other trip I’d taken (though not as much sightseeing as I would have liked). He wrote, “Both foreign and American press interviewed us at many stages, but their coverage hardly hinted at the impact all those experiences made on me. Several events remain as special highlights in my memory.”
What Is the Significance of the “Sinicization of Christianity”? – —A Perspective from Religious Studies (March 24, 2025, ChinaSource Journal)
The authorities’ demand was driven by the strategic concern over religious influence of “hostile forces from the West” and the political need for nationalist-statist ideology. The churches’ response was driven by the social condition of “politics’ domination over religion,” which was rooted in the Chinese tradition and has been further reinforced since 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was founded.
Whose Zhongguohua Is It Anyway? – Five Voices on Contemporary Sinicization Debates (March 24, 2025, ChinaSource Journal)
The Sinicization (Zhongguohua, 中國化) of Christianity in China can historically be seen as both a political strategy and a religious negotiation.
The Lausanne Movement and the Chinese Church (April 15, 2025, Chinese Christian Voices)
Having attended the Fourth Lausanne Conference in Seoul, I had the privilege of witnessing the grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Lausanne Movement. This gathering showcased the rich diversity of the universal church, and the depth and breadth of theological discussions were impressive. However, several remarks about the Chinese church sparked deep reflection and inner turmoil within me, prompting me to share these feelings with everyone.
Shenzhen: “Still a Vast Harvest Field” (April 14, 2025, China Partnership)
Evangelism has become more and more difficult over the past five years. The pressure and suppression coming from above are becoming more apparent. This is quite difficult. Shenzhen is still a vast harvest field for the gospel. The challenge is how we can effectively spread the gospel.
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Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio
Blessing Asia
In October-2022 more than 500 Christian leaders from across Asia gathered in Thailand for the Asia 2022 Congress, sponsored by the Lausanne Movement and various partnering organizations. I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress virtually and was mightily blessed. From Bible exposition to K-pop worship, and through seminars and workshops, the participants were encouraged by the stories of what God is doing in countries all over Asia. Clearly, God is on the move.
A beautiful vision was portrayed in a video of the popular worship song The Blessing, featuring singers from all over Asia. Here it is:
Many of the sessions have already been posted on their website and to their YouTube channel.
One that I found particularly helpful considering all that is going on in China was a presentation titled Church and State Relationship in Asia Today. You can see the video here.
I encourage you to spend some time on their website; there are fantastic resources for understanding God’s work in Asia today.
Original link: https://www.chinasource.org/resource-library/blog-entries/blessing-asia/
Image credit: Andrea Brucker, via Unsplash
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