New Urbanization and the Changes of Christian Churches in County Towns and Rural Areas Taking L County in Central Henan as an Example

Abstract

Since the reform and opening up, China has been developing through the stages of old urbanization and new urbanization. In recent years, with the rise of county economy? the new urbanization centered on county towns> as an important way to promote the urbanization of the population transferred from rural areas,has played a significant role in the changes of Christianity in urban and rural areas. Based on the ease study of L County in central Henan, this paper analyzes the new trend of the flow of Christian believers and the changes of churches in county towns and rural areas from five aspects： number and population characteristics of Christian believers? church activities and participation of Christian believers>theological personnel training? theological construction and finantial offerings. The study finds that the gap between urban and rural churches has further widened, the uprooted settlement of immigrant in county towns has led to a sharp drop in the number of rural Christian believers>a growing aging population>single and simplified church activities> the lost of theological talents> the rc-cmcrgcncc of heretical cults in rural areas, and shrinking finantial offerings. ’I'hc decline and fall of rural churches has become a general trend. Although the development of urban churches is on the rise as a whole> it also faces many challenges and difficulties.