Religious liberty in China improving slowly

  Religious liberty in China is increasing and the Chinese Christian community is growing, according to a leader of China’s state-sanctioned church–but American observers continue to hope for more progress.  Bao Jiayuan, associate general secretary of the China Christian Council, the officially recognized Protestant umbrella group in China, recently visited the United States. He said religious freedom in China is a matter of perspective. During the country’s “cultural revolution” of 1966-1976, many churches and religious institutions were forcibly closed and destroyed. People who practiced their faith openly were persecuted.  Since the end of the revolution, Bao noted the church has […]

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Turning a culture of debt into a culture of thrift

A growing number of American Christians and even some secular groups are beginning to believe John Wesley had the right idea: “Make all you can; save all you can; give all you can.” Hard work, thrift and philanthropy seem counter-cultural in a time and place where debt is pervasive, with individuals, families, companies and even the government borrowing increasing amounts of money. “Churches can offer American culture the gift of stewardship,” Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission Director Suzii Paynter said. “Church leaders preach about wise stewardship of time, energy and resources. Through church-sponsored financial seminars, people learn how to get […]

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