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China Sentences Prominent Pastor Wang Yi to Nine Years in Prison for Subversion
Wang Yi is one of China's most prominent protestant pastors, a respected intellectual, a legal scholar, a renowned human rights advocate, and a church movement leader. On Monday morning (Beijing time), December 30, 2019, the Chinese government sentenced pastor Wang Yi to nine years in prison on charges of inciting subversion of state power.
My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience – Pastor Wang Yi (English Translation)
Wang Yi is one of China's most prominent protestant pastors, a respected intellectual, a legal scholar, a renowned human rights advocate, and a church movement leader.
Pastor Wang Yi wrote the declaration below to be published by his church should he be detained for more than 48 hours. In it he explains the meaning and necessity of faithful disobedience, how it is distinct from political activism or civil disobedience, and how Christians should carry it out.
Why Give?: 5 Encouraging (Biblical) Reasons
During this time of year we’re often asked to consider giving financially to many worthy organizations and ministries. I realize that Pathway Learning is just one of many. Giving can be difficult and sometimes scary because it means that we are choosing to have less. But it’s important for us to give. Here are five reasons why we should give that I hope you’ll find encouraging.
Watch Exciting 2-Minute Video of Training Church Leaders Around the World
As Pathway Learning prepares for 2020, we’re reaffirming four core commitments that I would like to share with you. All four commitments are centered on glorifying God and advancing his kingdom on earth, through his church, by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These commitments can truly make a lasting difference in the lives of people, communities, and entire nations into the next generation.
Four Core Commitments in 2020
As Pathway Learning prepares for 2020, we’re reaffirming four core commitments that I would like to share with you. All four commitments are centered on glorifying God and advancing his kingdom on earth, through his church, by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These commitments can truly make a lasting difference in the lives of people, communities, and entire nations into the next generation.
Church Bulletins Sometimes Lie (Values, Part 4)
Make a bold, new, creative mistake, don't make this mistake. Don't make the mistake of not understanding the difference between a stated value and a core value.
You visit a church and they've got the core values in the worship bulletin. They got the core values framed, but how do you know whether it really is a core value or a stated value?
Join Worldwide Day of Prayer for Persecuted Church in China on December 9th
On December 9th, 2018, authorities arrested more than 100 members and leaders of Early Rain Covenant Church(秋雨圣约教会), including their pastor, Wang Yi, who along with his wife were charged with “inciting to subvert state power.” Pastor Wang Yi is still in jail awaiting trial. China Partnership is calling for a worldwide day of prayer for all churches in China on this day. Included is a helpful prayer guide.
Looking Underneath Our Behaviors to Our Values (Values, Part 3)
Having looked at beliefs and having looked at behaviors, we're going to narrow in on the concept of values. Church planters often fail to understand the true underlying values of the church. Which as we'll see in this article, are often not the same as the churches stated articulated values.
Help Under-Served Church Leaders Make a Difference in the World on #GivingTuesday
We exist to help under-served church leaders develop churches that transform lives and communities worldwide. We're seeking more partners to invest in the next generation through Pathway Learning. Will you help church leaders develop churches that transform lives and communities?
Core Behaviors (Values, Part 2)
Church planters need to be very clear not only on their beliefs, and the required beliefs of members and church leaders, but certain behaviors that are required, whether written or not. You don't have to be there very long before you find out these are the behaviors that are expected. The more clear you can be on the front end in terms of what behaviors are expected and what are not, the better it is for everybody.
Standing for Truth (Values, Part 1)
Church leaders, whether you call them elders, whether you call them deacons, whether you call them ministry leaders, or group leaders, they all have certain things that they are expected to believe, and the sooner that you are crystal clear on what are the requirements, and what aren't the requirements, the better the church planter is.
3 Marks of a Gospel-Centered Church and Life (Vision, Part 5)
A Gospel-Centered Church primarily focuses on proclaiming the Good News that God promises all who repent of their sin and trust in Christ a new record, a new heart, and a new world to come. This means a Gospel-Centered Church is one that places a top priority on the ministries of Good News for the lost or evangelism. Good News for the found or discipleship or spiritual formation. And Good News for the poor through ministries of mercy and justice.
Why the Church is the Hope of the World (Vision, Part 4)
The Church is the only institution in the world both designed and equipped by God for the spiritual, cultural and social renewal of all nations. God has ordained that His Kingdom come with transformational power into every sphere of life primarily through the Church. This why global Church planting is so important.
Vision for the Kingdom of God (Vision, Part 3)
The Good News of the Kingdom is not only that one day, when Jesus returns, God’s Kingdom is coming to earth to make all things new. The Good News is also that God’s Kingdom has already come to earth to make all things new through the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
The Gate of Paradise: How Justification Applies Now
Because justification is a one-time declaration of our forgiveness and acceptance by God through Jesus blood and righteousness, Christians often fail to understand why they need to obey God and confess their sins. If God has forgiven us through the blood of Christ and accepted us in the perfect righteousness of Christ, why do we need to keep obeying God’s law and confess our sins?
Pop Quiz on the Glory of God (Vision, Part 2)
God takes pleasure in pouring out His blessings on those who will dare to align their life purpose more with His. This raises one of the most important and ancient questions of the ages: “What is God’s purpose for the world?” Jesus gives us a wonderful glimpse into God’s overarching purpose for the world when he taught his disciples how to pray.
Without Vision the People Perish (Vision, Part 1)
Why it is that human beings everywhere always want to make a difference? This is true of both religious and non-religious people. When most people die they want to somehow leave the world a better place.
We learn from Scripture that’s because human beings are created in the image of God. You are designed by God in his image to make a difference in the world.
Gospel-Centered Theology (Foundations in Theology, Part 6B)
Sound theology places the good news of Jesus Christ at the center. This article will help you understand why the good news about Jesus Christ must be at the center of the study of theology.
Creation Regained (Foundations in Theology, Part 6A)
The ultimate goal of salvation is to restore fallen humanity and creation so they will flourish in a new earth for eternity. This article will help you learn how sound theology reflects the good news of God’s saving grace that restores fallen humanity and creation to the full beauty of his original design.
Covenants in Theology (Foundations in Theology, Part 5B)
A theology that is sound and faithful to Scripture must reflect the story of God’s unfolding covenants in history. This article will help you learn that the topic of biblical covenants is not an isolated topic in theology but one that can help us understand all other theological topics.