Ministry Week in Review — May 23, 2026

This week on the Church Leadership Radar Ministry Week in Review, Ted Rhoades covers the stories and trends that matter most for church leaders heading into the weekend.This week's stories:Pastor Ezra Jin & Zion Church (Beijing): A Wall Street Journal front-page profile on the pastor who refused to let authorities install surveillance cameras in his congregation — and was arrested for it. President Trump is reportedly planning to raise his case with Xi Jinping.The Boomer Wealth Transfer: New research on how Baby Boomers averaging just 1.4 church services/month signals a seismic financial shift — and what the $124 trillion generational wealth transfer means for your church's budget and strategy. Plus: why Gen Z showing up is the underreported story of the decade.AI & Spiritual Guidance: 50% of American Christians say they trust AI for spiritual guidance. What does that mean for your church's ministry approach?The Big Picture: Gallup data shows only 27% of Americans rate pastors high on honesty and ethics. How the trust deficit and the AI trend are connected — and what the irreplaceable local church offers that no algorithm can.Bright Spot — Baptize the World: 650+ churches in dozens of countries are participating in a synchronized global baptism event on Pentecost Sunday (May 24). The Church at its absolute best.Source Links:Wall Street Journal — Pastor Ezra Jin / Zion Church profileChurch Leaders — "Aftershock: Most Pastors Are Rebuilding on Cracked Ground and Don't Know It"Gallup — Honesty & Ethics in Professions surveyBaptize the World — Global Pentecost Sunday Baptism Event---Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily intelligence on what matters for church leaders.Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.