Dalit Christians Using Social Media To Challenge Caste Oppression (May 21, 2025, Religion Unplugged)
In India, caste oppression is an insidious and persistent reality that continues to affect millions, even in communities that formally reject caste divisions. The Christian community, which upholds the belief in equality before God, is not exempt from this social inequality.
Has India really overtaken Japan to become the world's 4th largest economy? (May 28, 2025, The Independent UK)
Surpassing Japan’s GDP would be a significant milestone for the world’s most populous country, but experts say an Indian official’s claim might be premature. Either way, are such moments really a cause for celebration?
The Garo tribe are stewards of the forest in India's Meghalaya hills (April 17, 2025, Global Voices)
This article explores how the Garos, an Indigenous tribe in Meghalaya, play a vital role in managing and conserving their mosaic landscapes.
India Vows To “Eradicate” One Of Asia’s Longest-Running Armed Rebellion, Biggest Security Threat To Country (May 17, 2025, EurAsianet)
India’s government is conducting an all-out military offensive against a country’s diminished and decades-old Maoist insurgency, with Home Minister Amit Shah vowing to “eradicate” the movement’s final remnants by early next year.
How will India navigate a world on the brink of a trade war? (April 3, 2025, BBC)
Donald Trump's blanket tariffs have put the world on the brink of a possible global trade war. The European Union has vowed a united response, and China has threatened countermeasures. How will India - Asia's third largest economy - navigate these global tremors?
‘I’ve seen people stop their cars to pick up litter’: how one city cleaned up its streets (April 4, 2025, The Guardian)
This is what usually happens in India: a politician wakes up and launches a cleanliness “drive” with fanfare. They ostentatiously start sweeping a street and speak solemnly about civic duty while the media take photos. The next day it’s over and things go back to how they were before. But not in Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
Attack, Assault, Arrest, Repeat (March 11, 2025, Christianity Today) (Subscription required)
In February, a mob of 200 people interrupted a Christian worship service in Rajasthan state and beat congregants with iron rods, leaving three severely injured. “Our prayer is … that one day we can practice our faith without fear…”
Middle Class 2.0: Changing employment sector in India, and its one big challenge (February 17, 2025, The Indian Express) (Subscription required)
The top 5 IT firms (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL and Tech Mahindra) employ more Indians today than the Railways or the armed forces. Similarly, private sector banks have more employees compared with their state-owned counterparts. But India still has a major job challenge beyond services.
How a tiny village became India's YouTube capital (February 18, 2025, BBC)
Tulsi is like any other Indian village. The small outpost in the central state of Chhattisgarh is home to one-storey houses and partially paved roads. A water storage tank peers out above the buildings, overseeing the town. Banyan trees with concrete bases serve as gathering spots. But what sets Tulsi apart is its distinction as India's "YouTube Village".
Mob attacks 50 Christians gathered for church service in India (February 21, 2025, The Baptist Paper)
“In recent years, Christians have been increasingly subjected to assaults, humiliation and the loss of their livelihoods and belongings by far-right religious nationalists who make clearly baseless accusations of forceful conversion. Meanwhile, those who carry out these attacks enjoy complete impunity…”
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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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