One Sunday morning, my alarm went off at half past five, as usual. Outside, it was still dark. I lay in bed, unable to move, while my mind automatically began running through the day’s schedule: morning prayers, preaching at Sunday worship, lunch with co-workers, afternoon pastoral visits, and an evening fellowship gathering. I wouldn’t get home until late that night.

On May 6, 2025, one of the most revered and eldest pastors in the Hebei churches, Rev. Xiang Shuting, rested in the arms of the Lord at the age of 94. One year later, many church members still deeply miss her voice and smile. Surrounded by the Lord’s grace and love, her life was extraordinary, leaving behind a trail of sweet fragrance.

As Easter approached, passages about Jesus’ resurrection naturally came to mind when I was preparing my sermon—the miracles of the empty tomb, the proclamation of the angel, the surprise of the women, and many other scenes. Yet as I quieted myself to reflect on the theme of resurrection, I was moved by a deeper realization: Christ’s resurrection should not be merely remembered as a historic event, but should be a living reality today.

There are four seasons in a year, each with its own characteristics. All living things take on different forms as the seasons change.

In the 1970s and 1980s, rural villages were scattered across the vast land like stars in the night sky. Yet the web of relationships among people was even denser and more intricate than the villages themselves. Information did not travel as fast as it does today, but human ties were warm enough to melt down ice and snow.

In my memory, during the coldest part of winters back home, nightfall often came early. The biting wind swept over the empty fields like knives, swirling dry straw and dust into the air. Yet winter was also a season full of anticipation. During the agricultural off-season, people have more time for joyous events, and weddings were especially plentiful. Whenever there was a happy event in the village -- a wedding or the birth of a child, well-off families hosting the celebration would invite a fi

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” (Luke 1:38)

“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:10)

A few days ago, a friend confined in me about her concerns, sharing a series of unfortunate events that occurred to her mother due to overly frugal habits.

Three decades ago, from September 4 to 15, 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing. As one of the largest global conferences ever hosted in China, the event brought together representatives from 188 states and regions, as well as women’s organizations. The gathering underscored that gender equality is a fundamental national policy of China.