Editor’s note: This May, we are praying for Shanghai. Shanghai is one of the world’s most affluent and cosmopolitan cities, and is an important center of business and commerce in China and across the globe. The mega-city has about 29 million residents, making it one of the world’s biggest cities.

Today, we hear from four different Shanghai pastors. They discuss how their city has changed over the last several years, since the beginning of the Covid pandemic and as oversight of faith in China has become more stringent. Many of the pastors referenced the difficult economic situation within Shanghai and China as a whole. They talked of how people are emigrating out of Shanghai, even while others arrive from smaller provinces. In this period, there are many ministry challenges, but also lots of opportunities.

Responses in this interview have been edited and slightly rearranged for clarity and length. This is the first of a two-part series.

City of Refuge

China Partnership: How has Shanghai changed over the last five years? What big opportunities and challenges do you see in your city currently? How can we be praying for Shanghai in general? 

Zhu Liang: Because of changes in the general environment, and also due to Shanghai’s closure during the Covid-19 epidemic, many families left the country in the past few years. Housing prices here have begun to fall. The wealth effect in Shanghai was brought about by rises in housing prices over the past two decades. But now, that has begun to decline. There are fewer foreigners in the city, and exchanges between China and foreign nations are not as frequent as they used to be.

The spirit of Shanghai is found in an oft-quoted proverb used to describe the city: “All rivers flow into the same sea.” We hope this bustling city will become a refuge for all people.

Shanghai is China’s most economically developed city, and our city values economic development very highly. The governance of the city is also relatively standardized. In Shanghai, there are still many opportunities for development in industries like finance, information, chips, automobiles, and building ships and large airplanes. High prices and slowing economic growth put a lot of pressure on young people. These things also squeeze those in lower-income classes.

Within China, Shanghai is the city with the largest number of churches. Watchman Nee’s congregation is headquartered in Shanghai. This church has had a strong influence on the church in China. Shanghai has been the center of Chinese Christianity in modern times. We hope the city will continue to be in the Lord’s favor in this present age, and that Shanghai Christians will continue to be used by the Lord.

During World War II, Shanghai once sheltered a large number of Jews. The spirit of Shanghai is found in an oft-quoted proverb used to describe the city: “All rivers flow into the same sea.” We hope this bustling city will become a refuge for all people.

Exodus and Influx

Huang Aiming: In the last five years, we have seen economic downturns. There has been a subsequent wave of emigration and general disillusionment, and young people have become interested in public affairs. Government controls have become even more stringent than before, focusing on minute details even at the grassroots level.

There has been an exodus of people who are leaving Shanghai. But there has also been an influx of people coming here from other places. In a situation like this, God has prepared some hearts to be open to the gospel.

Jiang Weilai: After several years of pandemic and the general economic downturn, the employment environment in Shanghai has become severe. Some people are affected by layoffs and unemployment. Those who were able to keep their jobs (perhaps they were even promoted) now face increased workloads and higher pressure.

There has been an exodus of people who are leaving the city. But there has also been an influx of people coming here from other places. In a situation like this, God has prepared some hearts to be open to the gospel. These people want to understand and even believe in the gospel. Pray for hearts to be more open to the gospel, and for the church to be concerned about our unconverted friends.

There Is No Unshakeable City

Gao Wan: Perhaps the biggest change in Shanghai is the amount of confidence people feel in the economy and their willingness to rely on the system. Shanghai people have lost confidence in the economic future. At the same time, they are afraid to rely too much on the orderly system [of government]. When this happens, the outflow of a large amount of resources becomes a huge challenge. Wealth, talent, organizations, and more are leaving the city.

Pray that those who leave Shanghai will realize in their new city that there is no eternal home and no unshakeable city.

At the exact same time, opportunities are being created by the rapid influx of people from other regions into Shanghai. These people are coming to Shanghai to fill labor vacancies [left by those who have emigrated]. They are seeking opportunities for growth.

Pray that those who leave Shanghai will realize in their new city that there is no eternal home and no unshakeable city. Pray that newcomers to Shanghai will not merely “consume” the city. Instead, pray for them to find meaning in their lives here. Pray for peace in Shanghai, for the economy to recover, for jobs to pick up, and for people to live and work in peace and contentment.

Zhu Liang, Huang Aiming, Jiang Weilai, and Gao Wan are pseudonyms for Shanghai house church pastors.

Pray for the great movement of people happening now in Shanghai, as some leave and others arrive. Pray that this time of transition and migration will bring many gospel opportunities and that people will come to know Christ through this period.