The Outreach Foundation of the Presbyterian Church in the USA visited the China Christian Council (CCC) and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), refreshing their friendship and engaging in discussions and exchanges concerning church ministry in the post-pandemic era.
Rev. Shen Xuebin, the vice president of CCC, received the delegation on July 24th, as reported by CCC&TSPM. The delegation includes Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mark Mueller and Associate Director Rev. Dr. Thomas Boone, who introduced the group members. Some of these members have maintained close ties with the Church in China for over two decades, with their relationships even extending back to their parents' generation. Others have made multiple visits to China, and a special duo consisting of a grandfather and granddaughter.
Throughout the meeting, Rev. Shen shared the state of multilingual worship in major Chinese cities, such as worship services conducted in English, Japanese, and Korean, among others. In response, Rev. Mueller recounted his own experiences attending worship in Shanghai. He expressed how, despite traveling vast distances to China, the worship experience felt familiar, with elements akin to those found in American churches, such as the recitation of the Apostle's Creed, the singing of hymns, and the communal recitation of the Lord's Prayer, which evoked a sense of being back home during worship.
Following these discussions, the members of the delegation posed inquiries, encompassing the historical significance of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Shanghai, the challenges faced by churches in the aftermath of the pandemic, and the vital issue of pastoral care for the younger believers. In response, Rev. Shen addressed each question.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
中国基督教协会驻会副会长沈学彬牧师接待了美国长老会外展基金会代表团。双方共叙友谊，并围绕疫情后的教会服侍问题展开交流与探讨。
据全国基督教两会，7月24日，美国长老会外展基金会执行主任马克·卡尔·米勒牧师和宣教事工副主任托马斯·贾琦·布恩牧师介绍了此次代表团的成员，其中，有的成员自父辈开始与中国教会维系了长达20多年的友谊；也有的成员已经多次来到中国；还有一对成员是祖父和孙女一起来到中国。
会上，沈学彬牧师向客人分享了中国一些大城市教会多语种（如英语、日语、韩语等）礼拜的情况。米勒牧师回应并分享他此次参加上海教会礼拜的感受，他说，虽然飞行千里来到中国，但是在这里的礼拜中有着许多与美国教会相同的元素，例如使徒信经宣信、赞美诗、共诵主祷文等，使他感觉就像是在家乡参加礼拜一样。
随后，代表团成员提出圣三一堂的历史、疫情后教会面临的挑战、青年信徒的牧养方面的问题，沈学彬牧师依次回应。
The Outreach Foundation of the Presbyterian Church in the USA visited the China Christian Council (CCC) and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), refreshing their friendship and engaging in discussions and exchanges concerning church ministry in the post-pandemic era.
Rev. Shen Xuebin, the vice president of CCC, received the delegation on July 24th, as reported by CCC&TSPM. The delegation includes Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mark Mueller and Associate Director Rev. Dr. Thomas Boone, who introduced the group members. Some of these members have maintained close ties with the Church in China for over two decades, with their relationships even extending back to their parents' generation. Others have made multiple visits to China, and a special duo consisting of a grandfather and granddaughter.
Throughout the meeting, Rev. Shen shared the state of multilingual worship in major Chinese cities, such as worship services conducted in English, Japanese, and Korean, among others. In response, Rev. Mueller recounted his own experiences attending worship in Shanghai. He expressed how, despite traveling vast distances to China, the worship experience felt familiar, with elements akin to those found in American churches, such as the recitation of the Apostle's Creed, the singing of hymns, and the communal recitation of the Lord's Prayer, which evoked a sense of being back home during worship.
Following these discussions, the members of the delegation posed inquiries, encompassing the historical significance of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Shanghai, the challenges faced by churches in the aftermath of the pandemic, and the vital issue of pastoral care for the younger believers. In response, Rev. Shen addressed each question.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
