Introduction: "inscrutably Chinese" narratives
The "true face" of the Chinese church
National narratives from outside China
National narratives from within China
Missionary stories from the past
"Missionary" stories from contemporary China
Literary narratives from before China's reform era
Foreign travelers in the new China
Chinese-American voices and living White males
Pre-modern and modern literature
Reform era writers test the waters
Shi Tiesheng and Bei Cun dive into the deep end
The narratives of Chinese Christianity
Conclusion: cause for hope amid unresolved tensions.