Evangelizing Public Space: Christian Outreach in Republican China

Abstract

This article examines how public spaces were shaped by local evangelists in Republican China. It treats public preaching as a dynamic site where Chinese Christians engaged with diverse audiences, integrating evangelistic activities into public life. In this study, the term “public preaching” refers to church outreach ministry in public spaces including streets, parks, and riverbanks. The spatiality of outreach preaching reflects indigenous Christian efforts to ensure the accessibility and visibility of the Christian message across diverse regions. The outreach ministry that expanded throughout Republican China targeted both urban and rural areas, promoting religious revitalization through various forms of public engagement. This article explores a realm of evangelical public space in which Chinese evangelists transcended geographical boundaries and kinship circles. By analyzing various forms of public preaching, I argue that Christian evangelical outreach reconfigured public spaces by introducing religious discourse into local life in both urban and rural areas. Show more