wfn.org | ABCUSA: Chinese Protestant Leaders Share in Dialog and Worship

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 10/20/03)--A delegation of
prominent Chinese Protestant leaders brought greetings to, and dialoged and
worshiped with, American Baptist Churches USA staff here last week as part
of a three-week visit with U.S. church groups this month.

The nine-member delegation represented the China Christian Council (CCC) and
the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches in China (TSPM).
Both bodies and the Amity Foundation have related to American Baptists
through International Ministries.  The Rev. Benjamin Shun-lai Chan,
International Ministries' area director for East Asia, India, Hong Kong and
China, facilitated the visit.  

The Chinese leaders included: Presbyter Ji Jianhong, chairperson of the TSPM
National Committee and executive vice principal of Nanjing Union Theological
Seminary; the Rev. Cao Shengjie, CCC president and vice president of the
National YWCA of China; the Rev. Hua Yaozeng, TSPM vice chairperson,
president of the Shanghai Christian Council, and vice principal of the East
China Theological Seminary; the Rev. Lin Zhihua, CCC vice president,
president of the Fujian Provincial Christian Council, and principal of
Fujian Theological Seminary; the Rev. Mei Kangjun, executive associate
general secretary of the TSPM National Committee, and chief editor of Tian
Feng magazine; Ms. Chen Meilin, CCC executive associate general secretary
and chief director of the Overseas Relations Department of TSPM/CCC; the
Rev. Bao Jiayuan, CCC associate general secretary and deputy director of the
TSPM/CCC Overseas Relations Department; the Rev. Ni Guangdao, associate
general secretary of TSPM National Committee and vice chairperson of
Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches in
Zhejiang Province; and the Rev. Xie Sheng, staff of TSPM/CCC Overseas
Relations Department and interpreter for the delegation.

The delegation shared a recently produced DVD depicting the dynamic growth
and far-reaching outreach of the CCC/TSPM churches; dialoged on mission and
ministry with leaders of International Ministries, National Ministries and
the Office of the General Secretary; and led a worship experience. In their
presentations, delegation members emphasized the CCC/TSPM commitment to
encourage its members "to follow the basic theology of the Bible" and to
live "as good Christians and as good citizens."  

Presbyter Ji identified "intensifying the reconstruction of theological
thinking that is thoroughly biblical" and training for pastors and lay
leaders as priorities for Protestant leaders in China.	And as the country
continues to experience dynamic Christian growth-there are about 16,000,000
Protestants in China today as compared to about 700,000 in 1949-a critical
need is for qualified ministers to provide pastoral and congregational
leadership.  Much of that growth has occurred since the Cultural Revolution
(1966-1976), when many churches were closed and the opportunities for
worship were severely curtailed.  The CCC has established 18 theological
seminaries and Bible schools and 70 distribution centers for Bibles, hymnals
and other material.  

Ji also emphasized the need "to strengthen relationships with churches
overseas," including American Baptist Churches USA, as a means of mutual
growth in partnership and understanding. Toward that end he invited the Rev.
Hictor Cortez, executive director of International Ministries, to organize
an American Baptist team to visit China.

The opportunity and challenge for Christians everywhere, Ji noted, is "to
give our God your heart and let your eyes observe God's ways."

In thanking delegation members for their time spent here, American Baptist
Churches USA General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley said, "We praise
God for our partnership with sisters and brothers who share our
Christ-centered commitment to the Gospel.  We are delighted and inspired by
the reports of the tremendous growth of believers and churches in China.
Out of the dark winter the Gospel has flowered and grown strong through the
witness and service of the churches of China.  We ask God's richest blessing
on these leaders and the believers they represent and on our continuing and
expanding partnership in Christ's name."

K/2003ABNS/03ABN124

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org