Visiting the Protestant Church in China

 June 2, 2008 Shanghai, China 

Visiting China this time around was a very exciting experience. It gave the opportunity for exchange and to see possibilities for church mission and growth.  Dr. Nikolaus Satelmajer, editor of Ministry magazine and Dr. Miguel Luna had a series of appointments to introduce the Ministry magazine to Protestant leaders in China, to discuss possible future teaching exchanges, and building bridges for mutual understanding.

Our first appointment was at CCC/TSPM in Shanghai on May 20.  We visited and had a conversation with Rev. Wang Rong Wei, Editor-in-Charge of the Magazine of the Protestant Churches in China, Tian Feng.  It was a very good meeting in which we exchanged information about the magazines and we agreed to exchange articles to be published in both Ministry and Tian Feng.  Rev. Wang accepted a free subscription from Ministry that the GC Ministerial Association will send as well as a free subscription of Tian Feng for us.

On May 21, we visited two institutions.  First, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary’s old campus and we invited some teachers to write articles for Ministry magazine.  This was a very good opportunity for teacher exchange as well as a time to provide assistance with literary resources.  The seminary is preparing to move to a new campus in September 2008. These new facilities will have the capacity to accommodate 500 undergraduate seminary students.   The old campus will continue operating as a graduate school, offering the Master of Divinity program.

During the afternoon, we visited Amity Printing Press at its new location that was inaugurated May 18, 2008.  The Press is a joint venture between the Amity Foundation and the United Bible Society.  The Company was founded in 1988 with an ongoing mission and priority to serve the Christian Church in China.  Besides their domestic production, Amity is main exporter of quality Bibles and presently exports internationally to satisfied customers in over 60 countries.  20 years of hard work have made them ‘thin’ paper printing experts and the main production center for Bibles in China.

Based on their high quality printing service and corporate image, their company has built a good reputation at home and abroad.  It is important to know that close to 56 million Bibles have been produced by their press up to May 18, 2008.  This figure includes over 43 million Bibles destined for mainland Protestant and Catholic Churches and close to 12 million Bibles exported in 75 different languages such as English, German, Spanish, and French, together with many African languages.

On May 18, 2008 48,000 square meters production facility has been completed.  As we visited the new plant we realized how our Lord has blessed the Printing Press for distribution of Bibles in China.  They are now producing Bibles with study guides. 

On May 22, we had a very good conversation and exchange with pastors and elders at Shanghai church. Some of the leaders have come to the church from Taoist and Buddhist backgrounds. During our meetings, they shared their experiences of how they became Christians and how people walked into Shanghai church looking for solutions to problems in their spiritual life. 

On Sabbath May 24, we attended Shanghai church and in the afternoon we held an informal talk with a group of young people asking questions about the earthquake on May 12, 2008 in Sichuan Province. We discussed why there was so much pain and suffering and other issues.  There are an increasing number of university students who are looking for answers in their Christian belief. Many wanted to know how they may answer classmates and professors at universities about their faith.

Coming to Beijing was a very important opportunity to present two seminars to local church pastors and church elders.  Dr. Nikolaus Satelmajer gave lectures on preaching styles and I gave presentations on church leadership and management. 

We observed that Beijing church is in the process of remodeling and expansion.  Every Sabbath 700 members met and after the expansion is completed, another 200 people will be able to attend church worship.  Dr. Satelmajer and I had the opportunity to discuss a few issues related to the development of the church in the Beijing area.  After our presentations they are now developing strategic planning for the following years.  By the end of our itinerary, we realized how our Lord Jesus Christ is blessing the Protestant Church in China and also how the church is using new opportunities for growth and exchange.