In May, Rev. Erik Burklin, president of China Partner, along with Rev. Hao Wang, visited Shanghai and Hubei.
At the station of CCC&TSPM on May 8, Burklin provided a brief introduction to China Partner, congratulating Rev. Geng Weizhong on his election as the vice president of the China Christian Council (CCC) last year, said CCC&TSPM. Geng shared three major development stages of the Chinese church since the 1950s, emphasizing the current priority of the Chinese church's work—promoting Christianity in the Chinese context.
With two parties sharing views and experiences regarding their respective ministries and the challenges faced by the Chinese church, Burklin expressed that China Partner will continue to support the Chinese church and witness that the Chinese church glorifies God and benefits people.
Following this, they visited Shanghai CC&TSPM. Rev. Burklin first introduced that the organization was founded in 1989 by his father, Dr. Werner Bürklin, who was born in China and was the son of German missionaries (Gustav Bürklin and Lina Pfeifferling) within the China Inland Mission. He noted that over the past 40 years, the organization has organized multiple visits and exchanges with the Chinese church, and the latest visit was paid for Shanghai CC&TSPM in 2019. Rev. Zhang Aili, vice president of Shanghai CC, introduced the current situation of Christianity in Shanghai and the ministry of foreign language services. Burklin expressed his desire to cooperate with the Shanghai church in the future.
After this visit, he held a discussion at the East China Theological Seminary on the same day, reported the college. President Xie Bingguo of the school introduced the seminary's curriculum development, and the enrollment status of the sacred music and theology programs, sharing innovative practices and achievements in the sinicizing Christianity of the seminary.
Rev. Zhu Zhiguo, chairman of Hubei TSPM and president of Zhongnan Theological Seminary, hosted the two guests on May 9-10, said Hubei CC&TSPM. Burklin participated in the evening prayers at the seminary, giving an exhortation in the volunteer training class. In a discussion with members of the provincial CC&TSPM and seminary teachers, Burklin inquired about the situation of teachers, courses, and student sources after the COVID-19 pandemic. He praised the seminary's library for its cultural courses, the publication Heavenly Dew Fund, and its special section on the "Four Histories" (history of the party, of the new China, of reform and opening, and of the development of socialism).
Burklin visited Jingzhou CC&TSPM, touring the chariot and horse array at the Xiongjiazhong National Archaeological Heritage Park on May 11, according to the Jingzhou CC&TSPM.
The next day, the president of China Partner preached a sermon titled "Abide in Christ" at Shashi Church, citing John 15:1-12. He reminded believers to read the Bible more with intercession, manifest the love of Christ, and make good testimonies in the church.
After the Sunday service, Rev. Burklin engaged in discussions with staff workers from Shashi Church on topics such as the sinicization of Christianity, small group ministries, and pastoral care, expressing hope for multifaceted cooperation and exchange with the Jingzhou church in the future.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
5月份，美国“中国伙伴”总裁林铭立牧师（Rev Erik Burklin）和王浩牧师访问了上海和湖北省。
据中国基督教两会，5月8日，在中国基督教两会，林铭立牧师祝贺耿牧师在去年换届后当选为中国基督教协会驻会副会长，并简要介绍了“中国伙伴”的基本情况。耿向来访客人介绍了中国教会自20世纪50年代以来发展的三个重大阶段，特别介绍了当前中国教会事工的重中之重——坚持基督教中国化方向。双方还围绕各自事工和中国教会面临的挑战进行交流和分享。林牧师表示，“中国伙伴”将一如既往地支持中国教会，并愿意在国际上分享中国教会荣神益人的见证。
接着他们到访上海市基督教两会。林牧师首先介绍了“中国伙伴”（China Partner）成立于1989年，在过去的40年中，该组织一直与中国教会保持友好交流，多次组团来访, 上一次到访上海市基督教两会是2019年。（Shanghai CC秘书长？）张爱理牧师介绍了上海基督教的近况以及在沪外语专场礼拜的事工。林希望今后能寻求与上海教会合作的机会。
5月8日，林一行两人在华东神学院进行座谈。谢炳国院长介绍了神学院的学科建设、圣乐与神学专业的招生情况，还分享了华东神学院在基督教中国化方面的创新实践和成果。
据湖北省三自爱国运动会，5月9-10日，湖北省基督教三自爱国运动委员会主席、中南神学院院长朱致国牧师接待了2位客人。林铭立牧师参加了中南神学院的晚祷、在义工班做了劝勉。在与省基督教两会同工与神学院部分老师进行的座谈中，林牧师询问了中南神学院疫情之后的教师、课程、生源等情况。他赞赏了中南神学院图书馆的“四史”专柜、开设文化课与创办《甘露》的举措。
据荆州市基督教协会，5月11日，林铭立牧师到访荆州市基督教两会，参观了熊家冢国家考古遗址公园楚王车马阵景区。
5月12日主日，林铭立牧师在沙市堂证道，他以《住在基督里》为题证道，引用约翰福音15章1-12节。他勉励全体会众多读圣经彼此代祷，彰显基督之爱，共同建立有美好见证的教会。
主日崇拜结束后，林牧师与沙市堂同工就基督教中国化、小组事工，教会牧养等方面进行了交流。并提出，希望今后能与荆州教会开展多方面的合作交流。
“中国伙伴”代表团访问中国
In May, Rev. Erik Burklin, president of China Partner, along with Rev. Hao Wang, visited Shanghai and Hubei.
At the station of CCC&TSPM on May 8, Burklin provided a brief introduction to China Partner, congratulating Rev. Geng Weizhong on his election as the vice president of the China Christian Council (CCC) last year, said CCC&TSPM. Geng shared three major development stages of the Chinese church since the 1950s, emphasizing the current priority of the Chinese church's work—promoting Christianity in the Chinese context.
With two parties sharing views and experiences regarding their respective ministries and the challenges faced by the Chinese church, Burklin expressed that China Partner will continue to support the Chinese church and witness that the Chinese church glorifies God and benefits people.
Following this, they visited Shanghai CC&TSPM. Rev. Burklin first introduced that the organization was founded in 1989 by his father, Dr. Werner Bürklin, who was born in China and was the son of German missionaries (Gustav Bürklin and Lina Pfeifferling) within the China Inland Mission. He noted that over the past 40 years, the organization has organized multiple visits and exchanges with the Chinese church, and the latest visit was paid for Shanghai CC&TSPM in 2019. Rev. Zhang Aili, vice president of Shanghai CC, introduced the current situation of Christianity in Shanghai and the ministry of foreign language services. Burklin expressed his desire to cooperate with the Shanghai church in the future.
After this visit, he held a discussion at the East China Theological Seminary on the same day, reported the college. President Xie Bingguo of the school introduced the seminary's curriculum development, and the enrollment status of the sacred music and theology programs, sharing innovative practices and achievements in the sinicizing Christianity of the seminary.
Rev. Zhu Zhiguo, chairman of Hubei TSPM and president of Zhongnan Theological Seminary, hosted the two guests on May 9-10, said Hubei CC&TSPM. Burklin participated in the evening prayers at the seminary, giving an exhortation in the volunteer training class. In a discussion with members of the provincial CC&TSPM and seminary teachers, Burklin inquired about the situation of teachers, courses, and student sources after the COVID-19 pandemic. He praised the seminary's library for its cultural courses, the publication Heavenly Dew Fund, and its special section on the "Four Histories" (history of the party, of the new China, of reform and opening, and of the development of socialism).
Burklin visited Jingzhou CC&TSPM, touring the chariot and horse array at the Xiongjiazhong National Archaeological Heritage Park on May 11, according to the Jingzhou CC&TSPM.
The next day, the president of China Partner preached a sermon titled "Abide in Christ" at Shashi Church, citing John 15:1-12. He reminded believers to read the Bible more with intercession, manifest the love of Christ, and make good testimonies in the church.
After the Sunday service, Rev. Burklin engaged in discussions with staff workers from Shashi Church on topics such as the sinicization of Christianity, small group ministries, and pastoral care, expressing hope for multifaceted cooperation and exchange with the Jingzhou church in the future.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
China Partner Visits Shanghai, Hubei
